Ahmedabad: Ravaged by violence since last Tuesday, Gujarat limped back to normalcy yesterday even as the army was moved into three more cities to curb tensions following riots that claimed nine lives, officials said.
Besides Ahmedabad, soldiers joined paramilitary and state police in Surat, Rajkot and Mehsana to patrol the cities.
Though there were no major incidents of violence yesterday, the situation remained tense, and roads were deserted in most major cities and towns.
Schools and colleges were shut, and so were most shops, offices and commercial establishments.
However, all government offices as well as public and private banks reported near normal operation yesterday.
Curfew imposed in certain areas of Ahmedabad, Surat, Rajkot and other cities since last Tuesday was relaxed yesterday, enabling residents to go out and buy essentials including milk, vegetables and medicines.
But night curfew may continue in the worst-hit cities and localities, officials indicated.
While auto-rickshaws and taxis started plying yesterday, public transport, which bore the brunt of mobs in Ahmedabad, Surat, Vadodara and other cities, operated only partially.
The BRT system, in which buses and stops were badly damaged, are expected to resume normal operations only by next week. The two days of unrest figured prominently in the Gujarat assembly where a vociferous Congress demanded the resignation of Chief Minister Anandiben Patel, forcing two adjournment of the house.
The speaker suspended around 30 Congress legislators for the day after they rushed towards him shouting slogans against the government. Congress leader Rahul Gandhi targeted Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the violence in his home state.
A statewide shutdown was observed in Gujarat last Wednesday, a day after a Patidar mega-rally was held.
IANS
