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Journalism of Courage
Two-km stretch between Kumbharwada and Champaner Darwaja is prone to communal flare-ups
With the State Reserve Police erecting six tents in the 2-km stretch between Kumbharwada and Champaner Darwaja on Saturday, it seems the city police has finally woken up to the needs of this 8216;problem patch8217;.
The area was witness to a communal flare-up after the Ganesh Visarjan celebrations early this week, which led to police firing and the death of one person.
It was on September 18 that Newsline had published an article, 8220;Walled city8217;s two-km stretch too long for Vadodara police,8221; which had highlighted the poor bandobast that had led to the communal flare-up.
8220;We have set up six SRP camps and also stationed two companies of Rapid Action Force in the area, who are keeping a strict vigil,8221; said City Police Inspector B N Chawda.
The camps have been welcomed by both the communities even though many small-time traders have been asked to shift their businesses to other places to make space for the police camps.
8220;We are ready to suffer losses, but there should not be any more riots. The camp is for everyone8217;s safety,8221; said Dholabhai Damor, a laari-owner, who has also been asked to shift to an alternate place.
Locals, who have been in this area since long, said, police tents were last erected in Fatehpura Char Rasta in 1986. Akram Timberwalla 42, a local resident said: 8220;This is very similar to what happened in 1986, when there was a camp here pointing to the crossroads. Even in 2002, when the entire Walled City was burning, they the police would frequent the place, even though there was a permanent camp at Hujarat Tekra, about two blocks away.8221;
Local residents also admitted the situation would have been different had the SRP been present here before the visarjan.
8220;The SRP tents will have an effect on our psyche and habitual miscreants will think twice before indulging in any such act,8221; said another local resident.
Former VMC councillor summoned for questioning
The Detection of Crime Branch DCB has summoned former Vadodara Municipal Corporation councillor Kishor Rana from the area for questioning on Friday night. Though DCB officials refused to comment as to why Rana was picked up for questioning, police sources said there were reports about Rana instigating mobs after the visarjan riots.
