Army in charge of Ahmedabad City

Ahmedabad: The army today took charge of the entire city of Ahmedabad and the suburbs and troops re-inforced earlier during the day, took up positions under the new arrangements.

Another measure taken today even as the situation was officially started to have improved in Ahmedabad as well as in other troubled parts of the State was the imposition of fresh 24-hour curfew in Ahmedabad ending 07-00 hours on Wednesday.

The army, which moved in yesterday and which had been entrusted complete charge of the eastern parts of the city, will now issue all instructions including for the enforcement of Government orders relating to curfew. The police will work in conjunction with the army, it was officially stated.

The police opened fire on five occasion in the city today and fire brigade sources reported 35 cases of arson, 529 cases of stabbing were also reported.

There was no official world till late this evening on the latest death roll in the five days of disturbances but other estimates put the count of dead in Ahmedabad around 350 and injured over 700.

Former Deputy Prime Minister Morarji Desai, went on an indefinite fast, soon after his arrival here this morning, appealed to the people to put an end the “shameful chapter of violence” and restore peace in the city.

In a broadcast from the All India Radio this afternoon he said “if this violence continues, as a humble servant of Gandhiji and this country there is no alternative before me but to fast unto death.