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CNN Saturday Morning News

Police Regain Control in Western India After Hundreds Were Killed

Aired March 02, 2002 - 07:10   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR: In western India, police and army troops say they are regaining control after three days of religious violence that left more than 200 people dead. Pitched battles were set off by a train attack blamed on Muslims which killed 58 people, most of them Hindus.

We get the latest now from CNN's Satinder Bindra, who joins us by videophone from that region -- Satinder.

SATINDER BINDRA, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Kyra.

The Indian prime minister, Mr. Apilbi Harivajpai (ph), has just spoken, and he described the riots here in India's western Gujarat State as a, quote, "disgrace to the nation." Even now, I'm getting reports from all across Gujarat State there continues to be police firing. The situation across Gujarat State remains very tense. People here are very distressed, are very distraught and angry that several people here have been burnt alive.

Now in Ahmedabad, which is the commercial hub of the state of Gujarat, police say the situation is slightly better than what it was before. Police say there's been no major incidents of violence this morning. The police are starting to relax a curfew which has been imposed in certain parts of the city.

But in other parts of the city, like the one for the place where I am, a curfew is still in force, and police, Kyra, have been given very strict orders to shoot rioters or curfew violators on sight. Police are taking these orders very seriously, and indeed this morning I saw a policeman opening fire at people who were violating this curfew.

The police force in the city of Ahmedabad is quite stretched, and they've come under a lot of criticism lately from both the Hindu and Muslim communities that they didn't do enough to protect them. Many people here criticizing the police that they just stood and watched as their city was going up in flames.

This morning, the police commissioner responded to that criticism, saying he couldn't do much because his forces were completely outmanned and outgunned.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) P.C. PANDE, AHMEDABAD POLICE: They were so badly, hopelessly outnumbered that if a few people, four policemen are there at the spot, and they are confronted with a 5,000-strong mob, it's very likely. But they would also feel overwhelmed at the whole thing, and probably some minuscule sort of attempt to take action, even opening fire, can lead to disastrous results.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BINDRA: The latest here is that the police and the army are now both patrolling the streets of Ahmedabad. The army was called out yesterday. While driving about town this morning, I saw several stores and shops that people were continuing to loot. But clearly, from what it was two days ago, the situation here is improving. I can see people now trying to clean up their stores, trying to clean up their homes, which have been both burnt and looted -- Kyra.

PHILLIPS: Well Satinder, it definitely looks like there's a no- tolerance policy that's taking place right now. I'm curious if there's been any talk about the U.S. getting involved in any way, possibly on a peacekeeping basis.

BINDRA: No, clearly there has been some international concern about what has happened here, but so far there's been no request at all for any international assistance. Indian security forces have now asked for help from the Indian army. And Kyra, the Indian army came here in large numbers last night. And ever since the Indian army moved in here, the situation has improved considerably. The city will continue to remain tense for several days because there's been a complete loss of trust between both Hindus and Muslims.

But clearly the situation now appears to be edging towards normalcy, and certainly no requests here from the Indian side to ask for any assistance from overseas.

Back to you.

PHILLIPS: Satinder Bindra, thank you so much.

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