SURAT, Feb 28: Close on the heels of a peace committee meeting, the Dangs administration held one more round of meetings with prominent citizens of Ahwa on Sunday, ahead of Holi, the tribals' main festival. Following fears that trivial incidents during the festival - when most tribals are suffering the effect of too much alcohol - might be projected as communal clashes, the administration has appealed to both communities to ensure that personal rivalries should not be linked to religion.Leaders of both communities have been asked to impress this on the minds of their followers and approach the police in case of difficulty. District collector J P Gupta told the peace committee that the prevailing peaceful atmosphere could be preserved with communal amity. Minor quarrels are always reported during the festival but, with the district the cynosure of all eyes in the past couple of months, the administration is leaving nothing to chance. DSP Manoj Sashidhar said mobile patrolling had been intensified, and personnel which were pulled in for bandobast during Dang Darbar were being despatched to their respective positions.The traders at the meeting meeting appeared satisifed with the bandobast. The days preceding Holi would often see quarrels between traders and drunk customers. Some leaders requested the authorities not to deal very harshly with the tribals, as drinking is an integral part of their life and of this festival.
