Here's a puzzle for the police, the local administration and Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi to solve: why is there a curfew in Lunavada?Weeks after Modi, who promised peace and protection from violence during his election campaign, was sworn in, this tribal region in Panchmahals district—which witnessed extensive communal riots after the February 27 Godhra carnage—is still tingling with tension. After clashes on Wednesday, a curfew was imposed here on Thursday evening. But even the police can’t fill the what-who-why-how blanks. ‘‘We have arrested people, but our priority is maintaining law and order,’’ acting Panchmahals police chief N.D. Solanki said. ‘‘We are still investigating how it all started.’’There are four theories on why Lunavada is still burning. All four contradict each other:• Theory No. 1: The violence began over an affair between a Muslim boy and a Hindu girl. Police say a First Information Report was made out last week after the boy allegedly slapped the girl’s relative. The boy was arrested on charges of harassing the girl, then released on bail. But police deny that this was the spark. ‘‘The boy was arrested a week ago and let out on bail. Elders worked to bring peace,’’ Sub-divisional Police Officer P.S. Prajapati said. ‘‘Why the fresh round of violence? It’s inexplicable.’’• Theory no. 2: Muslim criminals attacked a municipal school in Vanshia Chowk area; Hindus retaliated. ‘‘Some half a dozen criminals from the minority community gate-crashed into the school and attacked children,’’ Pratikbhai, a resident of Bhoiwada, alleged. ‘‘Hindus came out on the streets only to protect the children.’’ A head constable at a chowky near the school remembers a teacher telling him on Thursday that ‘‘Muslims were taking their children home, so maybe there’s trouble brewing.’’ Police shot down this theory as well. Prajapati said he had ‘‘only heard of this attack, but found no evidence to suggest it had taken place.’’• Theory No. 3: Muslim youths harassed a Hindu girl. Police and many town residents shot this down.• Theory No. 4: Residents of Muslim localities believe the violence was set off to cash in on the communal divide in the forthcoming Nagarpalika elections in some towns in the Panchmahals. Ibrahim Surti, whose shop was a target of attack, said, ‘‘There’s a sinister pattern. After Halol and Dahod, violence has hit Lunavada. Nagarpalikas in these areas will hold elections shortly and some people want to utilise the model with which the BJP won the Assembly elections.’’ Surti, a former member of Lunavada’s agricultural market committee, claimed that BJP workers had decided on this strategy at a recent meeting at the market.BJP MLA Kalubhai Maliwad denies that the violence is linked to the elections, and blames ‘‘some vested interests’’ instead. Maliwad, who spent seven months in jail before being acquitted on the charge of murdering Muslims during the post-Godhra violence, claims that Lunavada is a picture of communal harmony. ‘‘There is no tension between Muslims and Hindus here,’’ he said. ‘‘Some vested interests are trying to spread panic.’’
