Ahmedabad: Several riot victims and witnesses from Vatva area of the city on September 19, alleged before the two-man riot inquiry commission that armed Muslim mobs had resorted to heavy violence and struck terror in minds of Hindus during post-Godhra communal carnage in 2002.

Deposing before Justice (retd) G T Nanavati and Justice (retd) K G Shah, a riot witness also appealed that the "slums on the Chandola lake, on the outskirts of the city where large number of Bangladeshis live, must be cleared."

"Announcements like "Maaro, Maaro....." were being made from the Masjid located on the lake, infusing fear among the Hindus during riots and moving on the road became extremely terrifying," alleged a witness Harin Vyas, a Vatva resident.

Vyas told the panel, "These slums, which houses large number of Bangladeshis and other anti-social elements must be cleared as they repeatedly infuse fear."

Another riot witness Kishen Thakker alleged that several "bukaani clad" Muslims, on motorcycles and cars made rounds of the Hindu societies and resorted to heavy stone pelting and vandalism on February 28 and March 1 , 2002.

Former BJP corporator Gopalchandra Dani, in his deposition alleged that "Muslim mob pulled away a vegetable shop owner Meenaben but she was saved by a group of Hindus."

Shyamsinh Rathore, staying in Aradhana Society in Vatva told the commission that Hindus and Muslims had made an "agreement" that they would not attack each other.

But on April 29, the Muslims broke the agreement and attacked us, Rathore alleged and added "slogans and speeches that hurt the sentiments of Hindus were also raised repeatedly from a masjid in the area."

PTI