Spot report from Daijiworld's special correspondent

Panaji, Mar 6: After 48 hours of continues violence, Sanvordem town in south goa, remained peaceful since last evening with state government pressing in CISF and CRPF forces in the town.

The chief minister Pratapsingh Rane on Sunday declared compensation to the minority community families affected by the violence and said that the process to instill confidence in them has begun.

The Sanvordem town in south Goa saw unprecedented violence on March 3 and 4 in which three persons including a police sub inspector was injured.

Police had to resort to lathi charge and even fired in the mob several times to disperse the crowd. Twice the mob had attacked local police station and ransacked the market.

The trouble began when a structure used by minority community for prayers was demolished by the mob. Morcha by minority community members to condemn the demolition took violent turn with mob going on rampage.

"Now, the situation has normalized…. We have increased patrolling in the minority-dominated areas," stated deputy inspector general of police Ujwal Mishra.

The chief minister, who held an emergency cabinet meeting on Sunday, said that the violence was well-planned. Without blaming any political outfit for the violence, Rane said, "I saw leader of opposition Manohar Parrikar and BJP legislator Ramrao Desai in the mob."

He denied any police inefficiency in handling the situation and said that he did not ask the police to fire during initial stage as people may have got hurt.

Earlier report:

Goa on Red Alert

by Mayuresh Pawar / Mid Day

Panaji: *The tourist State has been put on red alert on late Saturday evening following communal riots that sparked off between Hindus and Muslims due to demolition of a mosque in the south Goa district.

The situation in the twin-towns of Curchorem and Sanvordem, remained tense as mobs continued violence, forcing police to resort to firing several times during the day. Two people were seriously wounded in the police firing.

The mob also mercilessly beat several police personnel, including a police inspector and fled with his revolver.

On Friday afternoon, a rally organised by a minority community to condemn the partial demolition of the structure by a few persons on March 1, took a violent turn with rival factions gathering in mobs against each other at
Sanvordem.

The mosque was built on government land. Police believe that armed persons from areas like Bhatkal in Karnataka entered Sanvordem to cause mob violence.

The violence continued through the night, as the mob completely razed down the disputed structure in the presence of police. Later, district administration clamped Section 144 in the town. Around 200 people have been arrested.

The situation in the town remained tense even after additional police force was requisitioned there. "We have asked to deploy two companies of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), which will reach Goa tomorrow morning,"
the DIG said.

Goa Govenor S C Jamir along with Chief Minister Pratapsingh Rane and Opposition Leader Manohar Parrikar visited the areas, but failed to pacify the crowd. Parrikar said, "This is a complete failure of the administration."