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Yogesh Pawar in Malegaon
Looting, plundering of shops and stray incidents of stone-pelting marked the one and half-hour relaxation in curfew in trouble-torn Malegaon on Tuesday.
The powerloom town near Nashik has been rocked by communal riots since October 26 when some Hindu youths clashed with a group of Muslims distributing anti-America pamphlets. In the ensuing orgy of violence, that soon spread to neighbouring villages, over 13 people have been killed and property worth millions of rupees destroyed.
When the curfew was relaxed on Tuesday for an hour to allow the residents to shop for essentials, looting and arson began afresh.
The authorities, however, dismissed these as "minor incidents" and claimed that the situation was improving. The district administration and the state home ministry, however, admitted that the spread of violence to the rural pockets of Tarabad, Jaykheda, Zodga, Ravalgoan, Saundane, Kalwan, Brahmangaon and Dabhadi was a cause for concern.
Curfew has been imposed in Devala and Antapur following attacks on the houses of one community.
An acute shortage of water has made the matters worse in Malegaon and the town's 700,000 residents are now depending on less than 900 borewells and handpumps.
Authorities said some miscreants from Dabhadi village have damaged the pipeline that brings water to Malegaon.
The town is also facing a serious shortfall of provisions. With all entry points to the town sealed, fresh supplies of milk, oil and vegetables have not arrived.
"There is just about 515 quintals of rice and 300 quintals of sugar with us from our supplies meant for BPL (below poverty line) ration card holders," said Tehsildar Ravindra Sapkale. He added that directives have been issued "to distribute these in small packets till more supplies arrive."
District Collector Kishore Gajbhiye said it would be a couple of days before the town's water supply is restored. "Getting men and material for the repair work is proving difficult due to the prevailing circumstances...we are trying our best."
Minister of State for Home Manekrao Thakre told rediff.com that his government's first priority is to restore communal harmony in the town. He said over 300 arrests have been made and more would follow.
Denying rumours of town's milk supply being poisoned, he said: "Some irresponsible sections of the vernacular media have only increased the problems on our hand with screaming headlines on discovery of RDX and guns and mass rape of Hindu women. It is such rumours that aggravate the already volatile situation."
The minister assured that fresh provisions would arrive in Malegaon in a day or two.
Meanwhile, Nasik Guardian Minister Swarup Singh Naik has come in for flak for taking five days to visit the town. Naik admitted that he was a bit slow in realising how serious the situation was. He, however, blamed the local administration for not keeping him informed about the developments.
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