CONFIDENTIAL                         		         PA/UIG(P & C)266/2002 
					    	         Office of the Addl.D.gG.P
					       	         (Intelligence)		
							Gujarat State,
							Gandhinagar,
							Date : 20th August,2002.

To :
The Addl.Chief Secretary,
Home Department
Sachivalaya,
Gandhinagar.

		Subject : Report on Current Law and Order situation.

		Ref : Telephonic request made by Shri P.S.Shah,Addl. Secretary,
		(L & O ) on 20.8.2002

	As required by the Home Department, a review of the law and order situation of the state has been made and salient features are mentioned below :

1.	There is apparent normalcy in the law and order front in the state which is gradually getting stabilized after extensive communal riots since 27th February, 2002 when 59 persons largely belonging to Hindu community were killed in the attack on Sabarmati Express bogie, by suspected Muslim criminals.  In these communal clashes, 963 people were killed, which includes 200 persons killed in police firing.  Nearly 2000 persons were injured besides causing damage to property, life stock, houses, shops etc of the victims to the tune of  687 crores.  The above statistics pertain to the period between 27/02/2002 to 07/08/2002.  The communal incidents in the above period were reported from 993 villages and 151 towns covering 284 police stations ( out of 464 police stations ) spread over to 154 Assembly Constituencies out of 182 Assembly Constituencies.

2.	There is latent communal tension in most of the places where incidents are reported.  Any minor issue involving members of minority and majority community would re-ignite communal passions resulting in clashes as is witnessed in Dhoraji on 17.8.2002.  Therefore, police vigilance with adequate response mechanism and streamlined police teams are quite imperative for further consolidating the current normalcy.

3.	Communal divide between the Hindus and Muslims has widened to an unprecedented degree.  The interaction between the two communities is practically negligible in social, commercial, financial and cultural fields.  Large sections of the minorities, being the major victims of the recent riots, (117 Muslims killed in Police firing as against 83 Hindus & 587 Muslims killed by rioters as against 177 Hindus killed, which included 59 Godhra train tragedy also ) is still to develop adequate faith in Administration, Police Department and Criminal Justice System.  The minorities also continue to complain that many rioters belonging to Hindu community are not arrested since they hold important positions in Hindu organizations.  The minorities  are also dejected about non-implementation of most of the recommendations by the National Human Right Commission and National Commission for Minorities.  They also harp upon the point that out of 302 Dargahs, 209 Mosques and 30 Madrassas damaged during the riots , a handful only had been repaired and restored to their original position.  In many places the riots victims belonging to Minority Community could not restart their commercial activities or petty business pursued by them in the pre-riot period, due to the prevalence of an atmosphere of insecurity.  In one instance , in Baroda District a father and son, (Muslim) who returned to their native place were murdered on 04.7.2002.
4.	Meanwhile, the fundamentalists, from both the communities continue their communal propaganda for sharpening the gulf between minorities and majority by (a) Preaching that persons belonging to opposite community should not be given employment (b) Discourage or prevent resumption of business or commercial activities; by the opposite community. (c) Circulation of pamphlets and publication of advertisement creating disaffection among majority community against minorities and National level statutory bodies like N.H.R.C., N.C.M. and Election Commission, (See enclosed newspaper report and our report in this matter to D.G.P.)
5.	An estimate about communal riots victims migrated from various districts indicate that over 75,500 persons from 13 districts have been shifted to other places. We are yet to get data from other districts.  It is learnt that large chunk among them has not returned to their original habitats on account of feeling of insecurity.  (See the enclosed statement).  These persons would remain practically disenfranchised in the event of an election held before their return to their native places.  There is an information that interested political parties will collect such persons in large number and insist upon their voting rights on the polling day.  This would lead to confrontation of  rival political groups and resultant disruption of public order.
6.	During the communal riots 10,472 houses , 12,588 shops, 2724 larry/gallas were damaged or destroyed due to arson while 1333 shops were ransacked.  In this process thousand of people have lost all their documents of identity.  Unless  remedial measures are taken they would also pose a problem in the processof thir re-enumeration as electors and subsequent exercise of their franchise.
7.	During the riots hundreds of regular voters belonging to areas outside Gujarat have gone away and most of them are not likely to return.  There is every likelihood of mischievous elements trying to impersonate for these voters and thereby creating law and order problems.
8.	A clear picture about the displaced persons can be obtained only if voters list of the affected areas are scrutinized and thereafter grass root level verification is carried out to ascertain their physical presence.
9.	During the electioneering there is every possibility of communal elements  raising issues , which would fuel communal passion.  This would result in generation of communal tension and clashes particularly in 151 town/cities and 993 villages where the wounds inflicted by the riots are yet to heal.
10.	Recently, a tendency has been noticed among the militant communal elements of both minority and majority community to procure illicit firearms.  This has a dangerous dimension of possible use of such firearms against rivals during the intensified political activity in the present run up to the elections.
11.	The State and Central Protectees and a large number of political leaders would face higher levels of threat to their security in the context of the above described scenario.  Security and protective measures, access control arrangements, counter explosive Schemes, etc. have to be updated accordingly.
12.	The requirement of Central Para Military Forces and additional security personnel have to be worked out by keeping in view of the above disquieting trends of the emerging Law and Order situation.

(E.Radhakrishna)
Dy.I.G.P(P & C).
For ADDL.D.G.P(INT),
G.S.GANDHINAGAR.

Copy with compliments to …
Direct General and Inspector General of Police,
Gujarat State,
Police Bhavan, Sector 18,
Gandhinagar.
(2) ADGP (Int)., G.S., G’nagar

SECRET      STATE INTELLIGENCE BUREAU,G.S. GANDHINAGAR
Details of incidents reported pursuant to the attack on Sabarmati Express at Godhra     From 27.2.2002 to