COIMBATORE, DEC 2: Even as the situation in the riot-torn city was fast returning to normal, one person was fatally stabbed today, taking the toll to 19 in the violence and police firing since Sunday, police said here.

However, the overall situation improved with no other major incident being reported during the day as the army and paramilitary forces intensified patrolling and ensured there was no violation of promulgatory orders in force. Though tension prevailed in some areas, the city remained peaceful by and large, police added.

Meanwhile, two State Ministers, Arcot N Veeraswamy and Durai Murugan, deputed by the Chief Minister, to assist the district administration in restoring normalcy, arrived in the city. They are expected to camp here till normalcy was fully restored, he said.

Elsewhere in Pondicherry, the administration has sought Rapid Action Force from the Centre to be deployed in areas which witnessed clashes yesterday.

Copyright © 1997 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.