POLICE: BURNT OUT BUSES: DAMAGED TRUCKS: BURT TRAIN: BURT TAXIS.




Initials GEP/VS/JF/OS



Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved

Background: POLICE REINFORCEMENTS ARE STANDING BY IN BOMBAY TODAY (TUESDAY) AFTER FOUR DAYS OF RIOTING IN THE CITY THE DAYLIGHT CURFEW HAS BEEN EXTENDED FOR TWENTY ONE HOURS AFTER CROWDS YESTERDAY ATTACKED BUSES AND TRAINS AND SET FIRE TO MANY BUILDINGS.

TWO HUNDRED BUSES HAVE BEEN DESTROYED, AND OVER A HUNDRED OTHER VEHICLES, INCLUDING LOADED LORRIES AND A NUMBER OF TAXIS THAT WERE GATHERED TOGETHER AND BURNT BY THE RIOTERS. THE SUBURBAN TRAIN SYSTEM, WHICH HAS BEEN A MAIN TARGET FOR VIOLENCE, IS MAINTAINING ONLY A SKELETON SERVICE.

DURING THE DISTURBANCES FORTY-SIX PEOPLE HAVE BEEN KILLED AND MORE THAN 450 INJURED, MANY OF THEM WOUNDED WHEN POLICE FIRED ON THE CROWDS.

THE POLICE COMMISSIONER OF BOMBAY SAID TODAY THAT THE ARMY WAS STANDING BY BUT THE TROOPS HAD NOT BEEN CALLED IN AS THE SITUATION WAS UNDER CONTROL. OVER 1,500 PEOPLE HAVE BEEN ARRESTED.

THE RIOTING BROKE OUT ON SATURDAY WHEN THE MILITANT MAHARASTRIAN MOVEMENT, THE SHIV SENA, TRIED TO STOP DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER MORAARJI DESAI FROM ENTERING THE CITY. THE MOVEMENT IS CAMPAIGNING TO KEEP MINISTERS OUT OF BOMBAY UNTIL THE GOVERNMENT SETTLES A BORDER DISPUTE BETWEEN MAHARASHTRA AND THE NEIGHBOURING STATE OF MYSORE.