India: All civilians in Gujarat must be protected

The organisation called on the state authorities to ensure that all necessary steps are taken to provide protection to civilians in the state, regardless of political or religious affiliation.

Violence erupted in Gujarat in February 2002, when 59 people were killed in an attack on a train. In the days that followed, thousands of people, most of whom were Muslim, were targetted in widespread violence. Local human rights groups believe that as many as 2000 people were killed. Many tens of thousands of others remain internally displaced, fearing to return to their homes.