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My men have done a commendable
job: P C Pandey

Though the police had relaxed curfew in most parts of Ahmedabad, the situation in the city was far from normal with major shopping centres remaining closed as wary owners refused to resume business.

"No untoward incident has been reported from any part of the city," Ahmedabad Police Commissioner P C Pandey told rediff.com.

An officer of the 1970 batch of the IPS, Pandey took over as commissioner in April 1999. Notwithstanding the fact that official death toll in last six days in the city alone stood at 234, Pandey claimed that his force had done a commendable job in containing the violence.

"I would like to compliment my officers and men who have done a commendable work in containing violence in Ahmedabad," Pandey told rediff.com.

Asked about his earlier 'I hang my head in shame' comment, he said that he was misquoted.

"I was referring to the Godhra incident and the retaliatory violence that followed," he said.

"I am a peace-loving person. I have seen enough violence in my thirty-two years of service. We have better things to do in life then indulge in violence," he added.

He said that the police had anticipated trouble in the old city following the February 27 Godhra incident.

"We were successful in curbing violence there, but then the trouble spread to other areas and strained our resources. We have six thousand policemen for a population of five million. Despite the odds, we managed to do a good job," Pandey said.

He has lost count of the number of FIRs registered at various police stations. "They would run into hundreds," he candidly admitted.

Five hundred persons have been arrested in connection with the arson and rioting, he said.

"We did not make any distinction of religion or party affiliation while making the arrests," he said firmly.

"We have lifted curfew in most parts of the city. In the remaining areas, only women and children have been allowed to move out to buy essential commodities. I hope that things would be back to normal by Tuesday," he said.

EARLIER REPORT:
I hang my head in shame: Ahmedabad top cop

The Sabarmati in Flames: Complete Coverage

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