With more bodies recovered, the death toll from the bloodshed in Gujarat rose to 516 on Tuesday, but authorities said the situation was under control and fast returning to normal. The curfew was relaxed at most places and markets reopened and vehicular traffic moved, but sporadic incidents were reported from some areas.
An official spokesman in Gandhinagar said that the 516 deaths reported since February 28 included 97 in police-firing and the remainder in violence and arson. So far, at least 800 people were injured in rioting in different parts of the state. A total of 3,895 people have been arrested across Gujarat and police fired more than 4,000 rounds to quell violent mobs. Overall, the spokesman added, the situation was normalising ``very fast`` and was largely under control of police, the army and para-military forces, still deployed in sensitive and vulnerable areas of various cities and towns. Many of the schools and other educational institutions, offices and banks reopened but attendance was thin. Shopkeepers were ready to pull down shutters and hurry back home at a moment`s notice. Essential commodities like milk and vegetables were sold on a premium.


Bureau Report