Police opened fire on Friday to disperse two clashing groups in this curfew bound town even as the death toll in violence since Thursday rose to seven with the recovery of one more body. Police said they had to resort to firing after their attempts to disperse them failed. However, no one was injured in the firing.


Meawhile, two columns of army are being deployed in the city to assist the local administration in bringing normalcy. Defence minister George Fernandes is also expected to visit the town later in the day to take stock of the situation. In the curfew bound industrial town of Halol, about 45 kms from Baroda, police opened fire to disperse a mob indulging in setting on fire factories. Three factories were gutted, police said.
Bureau Report