Violence stemmed, Surat returns to normal

The police had to burst five teargas shells to disperse mobs pelting stones in Bade Khan Chakla area on Sunday night. No injuries were reported.

In Shahpura area of Limbayat, as many as 50 families fled their homes after they were allegedly threatened by Govind Solanki, a Bajrang Dal worker, on Sunday. According to reports, Solanki was beaten up by three armed youth, belonging to the minority community, late on Saturday night. He was all alone at home when the youth — reportedly harbouring an old grudge — attacked him. The Bajrang Dal worker was saved by a member of the minority community. “But for the intervention, he would have been killed,” sources told The Indian Express.

In a bid to avenge himself, Solanki, alongwith his accomplices, reached Shahpura. The menfolk were not around and he reportedly threatened the women: asking them to vacate the area or else face dire consequences. Scared, many families left their homes and went to their relatives’ places in other parts of the city.

“We are living under a constant shadow of fear,” a minority member said, admitting that Solanki was beaten up by men who were drunk. Shahpura stayed deserted even after curfew was relaxed.

Meanwhile, a police mobile reached Rudarpura area following a phone-call that mobs were on the streets at around 11 pm. “The mobile reached there and burst a teargas shell, but found that the `mob’ was a religious gathering,” said a police control room sub-inspector.

There was tension in Surat Rural after three people were arrested late on Saturday in Mahuva town. They were reportedly pelting stones at a place of worship. One of the accused in the case is a BJP district secretary, the District Superintendent, V M Pargi, said. The police, he said, was maintaining a vigil in suspect areas.

Curfew was relaxed for four more hours and customers thronged to market places to stock up on household commodities. Shops and other business establishments — from Chowk Bazaar till the station — witnessed a heavy rush of customers.

Vegetable markets at Chowk Bazaar, Bhagal, Delhi Gate, Ruwala Tekra, Saiyedpura and Sardar Market on Puna Kumbharia Road opened after almost four days. Ramubhai, a vegetable-vendor at Bhagal Market, said, “The riots came all of a sudden and many customers, who had stocked on vegetables, were alright, but what about those who did not ?”

Business establishments have incurred losses running into crores of rupees. Rueing the incidents, Arvindkaka of Janta Farsan Mart at Chowk Bazaar said, “Losses are in every business, but our real loss is the peace and prosperity of our city, which has been taken away by the rioters.” “The people,” he said, “are aware of tactics used by politicians,” he added.

Students, forced to stay at home owing to the tension, returned to their schools and colleges. Suhail Munshi, a SY BCom student at Amroli College, said, “We enjoyed a holiday for four days, but it was difficult to stay in the house.”