While no fresh incident of violence have been reported in Vadodara since Sunday evening, areas affected by the communal clashes that lasted three days continue to remain on the edge as the police officers carry on combing exercises in the areas, rounding up several locals. Armed SRPF personnel continue to man roads of the walled city, stationed at a distance of 100 meters even as the local police teams patrol interior lanes to round up “suspects”. On Tuesday, officials continued to pick up suspects, allegedly involved in the clashes from the walled city area. The areas of Koyali Falia in Vadodara were involved in a verbal argument with the policemen who came to pick up three men from the area. Residents claimed that none of the three men were present at riot spots. “The officers arrived with a file and picked up the older brother of the person they were looking for as he was not at home right now. This is not fair. When the lady in the house objected, they took her along too,” said a resident. ACP (C-Division) A F Sindhi, who arrived at the spot accompanied by at least two dozen officers in seven police jeeps said that the police was only doing its job. “We have to ensure that no incident is repeated and over 500 people have been questioned and taken in preventive detention in the last three days. If they are not involved in any incident, they are being released. The city police station has seen 54 arrests under various IPC sections for rioting and instigating violence, in the last three days.” In fact, the areas continue to wear a deserted look. Several families from both communities have left the city on “short breaks” to avoid being targeted during the police round ups. Sadiq Shaikh, a local, said, “Several traders have closed their shops and taken off with their families for the fear of being picked up and harassed by the police. This is the first clash in several years that has instilled such fear among people.” Residents from both communities allege that they are being targeted by the police who are clueless about the real perpetrators. Shabbir Syed, a resident of Yakutpura, who had helped reach a victim of assault, to a local hospital on Sunday, after he was attacked by unidentified assailants in the area was questioned by the police on Tuesday. Shabbir said, “I was just doing my duty as a citizen and in fact, helping the person from the other community. In the process, some persons on the street identified me to the police as a rioter and the officials have simply taken it at face value although the victim’s family is willing to speak up for me.” Traders in Hathikhana too said that they were maintaining caution and had decided to keep their shops only partly open until normalcy is restored in the walled city. Commissioner of Police E Radhakrishnaiah said about 90 persons have been arrested until Tuesday and several questioned under four police stations in the area. “Majority of the cases are registered under the city police station and the investigations are still on,” Radhakrishnaiah said.
