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Sheela Bhatt in Godhra
Rampaging mobs on Thursday set fire to the Wakf board office inside the Gujarat state secretariat building in Gandhinagar.
The Cabinet headed by Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi was holding a meeting to discuss the Sabarmati Express incident, when miscreants set fire to the Wakf board office.
The Cabinet, which later completed the meeting at Modi's house, decided to cancel examinations all over the state.
The Vishwa Hindu Parishad has called for a statewide bandh to protest Tuesday's incident in which miscreants set a bogie of the Sabarmati Express on fire at Godhra.
Sporadic incidents of violence were also reported from Bharuch and Surat. Curfew has been imposed in Bharuch.
In Ahmedabad shopkeepers downed their shutters in response to the bandh call.
Reports also said that a hotel in Ahmedadad was burnt down, while angry VHP activists blocked all roads leading to the city. There were also reports that two hotels were burnt down in Vadodara.
The reports, however, could not be independently confirmed.
A state home ministry official speaking to rediff.com said that the situation in Ahmedabad and Baroda is tense, but under control.
He said, "There are reports of angry people gathering in the streets of Baroda and Ahmedabad. But we have enough policemen deployed to prevent any untoward incident."
He said that fears of a communal clash between the Hindus and Muslims have forced the administration to impose curfew in seven areas of Baroda.
Two cases of stabbing were reported in Baroda and Ahmedabad on Wednesday night, the official added.
Raju Bhargava, deputy superintendent of police (Panchmahal), said, "We have deployed Rapid Action Force in Godhra's sensitive area. The Force has been asked to get the position in and around the railway station too."
State Home Minister Gordhan Zadaphia said, "I don't expect the Hindu community to retaliate."
Related Reports: Angry Gujarat ministers vow to take action VHP sponsored bandh begins; 1 killed in Vadodara Victims' bodies brought to Ahmedabad
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