Gujarat transfers top policeman

Gujarat policemen have been accused of complicity

State authorities in India's riot-torn Gujarat state have transferred the top police officer in the state's largest city, Ahmedabad.

Anger over the riots is widespread

The transfer of Police Commissioner PC Pandhe was ordered late Thursday night by the state's Chief Minister Narendra Modi.

Mr Pandhe has been widely criticised for failing to stop continuing clashes between Hindu and Muslim mobs that have claimed at least 900 lives and destroyed much of the city.

In addition to Mr Pandhe, 13 other officers were issued marching orders, to be replaced by others whose ability and integrity are considered unblemished.

Mr Modi ordered Mr Pandhe's transfer after a Hindu mob reportedly attacked the children of two city firemen.

Firemen's strike

Mr Pandhe was replaced by Additional Director-General of Police KR Kaushik.

The transfer follows a fresh surge in communal violence in which around 30 people have been killed over the past five days.

Soldiers have partially replaced policemen

Early on Friday, several hundred Hindus and Muslims clashed on the banks of the Sabarmati river in Ahmedabad.

They carried swords and pelted each other with stones.

Police said at least 40 people were injured in the clashes and apparently, some houses were set on fire although Ahmedabad's firefighters refused to respond to emergency calls.

Firefighters went on strike on Thursday night after two of their colleagues were allegedly beaten up by a mob, and an ambulance sent to rescue them was stoned.

This was apparently after the children of two firemen had been beaten up by another mob.

Special forces

The strike was withdrawn after the authorities promised action against the attackers.

Mr Pandhe's swift transfer is believed to be a key element of that promise.

After repeated complaints of complicity and negligence against Gujarat's state authorities, India's central government recently joined the opposition in criticising Mr Modi's administration.

Mr Modi then appointed senior security expert KPS Gill as his chief security adviser with the task of ending the continuing violence.

The Indian Government says it is sending 2,000 anti-riot troops to reinforce security forces in Gujarat.