All four victims were stabbed to death. The incidents took place in Ratanpole, Teen Darwaza, Khanpur, all in the walled city, and Shah Alam in the southern part of the old city. Six others were also stabbed and one was set on fire by a gang. All of them are undergoing treatment in city hospitals.

Today's violence was the worst since trouble began on July 20 in the Dariapur area. For the first time, an incident took place in the trans-Sabarmati area when an autorickshaw driver was stabbed near Swastik Char Rasta on the C G Road.

The day began normally, with shops and business establishments open all over the city. Soon, incidents of stone-pelting were reported from Mirzapur and Gheekanta areas. Around noon, a frenzied mob poured kerosene on a teenager and set him ablaze in Gheekanta. He was rushed to V S Hospital with 45 per burns.

Immediately, panic spread in the city; shops and offices closed down, schools declared a holiday and the roads were deserted. Soon incidents of stabbing, clashes and stone-pelting were reported from different parts of the city. Rumours were rife. At Mirzapur, police lobbed teargas shells to disperse mobs. In Gheekanta, it used lathis to disperse another clashing groups. More than 50 people were arrested.

In Ratan Pol, in Karanj police station area, a 32-year-old youth was done to death near Limbu Pol at around 3.30 pm. The youth bore two stab wounds on his chest. Police said that additional forces were rushed there to keep the situation under control.

After half-an-hour, another youth was knifed near Patwa Sheri near the busy Teen Darwaza. The youth was also hit on the head with a blunt object. He was rushed to V S Hospital, where he was declared dead. The body of a youth, bearing several stab wounds, was found in Khanpur area. Around 7 pm, one more youth was stabbed near Shalimar cinema in Shah Alam; he died on the way to hospital.

A youth was stabbed in Raikhad under Gaekwad Haveli police station. The impact of violence was also seen in the posh Navarangpur area when an auto-rickshaw driver was stabbed late in the afternoon. Police said that this was the first time since 1985 that a stabbing had been reported from the area. However, life was normal in other trans-Sabarmati areas.

Incidents of attacks on passersby were reported from some areas. In Shah Alam, two youths were attacked with knives and swords by a group near Shalimar cinema. One of them succumbed to serious injuries while another was rushed to hospital in a critical condition.

Late in the evening, an indefinite curfew was imposed in Shahpur and Karanj police station areas. Minister of State for Home Haren Pandya said the city had been was divided into beats and the police personnel attending these beats would be held personally responsible for any law and order problem in their areas. He said armed constables had been authorised to shoot trouble makers at sight.

The minister said two more companies of Rapid Action Force had been summoned from Mumbai; four are already deployed. Besides, 32 companies of State Reserve Police have also been pressed into service. A total of 294 persons have been arrested, of whom 206 were held as a preventive measure, Pandya said. Foot patrolling has also been intensified and mohalla committees will be revived.

Late on Monday night, the police fired 42 rounds in the air to disperse clashing mobs in Gomtipur area, which indulged in brickbatting. Police said the trouble took place near Sutarwadi and Ashoknagar. Five police officers were injured in the stone-pelting. In Danapith area, one shop was set ablaze and two were looted, while in Jamalpur two groups exchanged brickbats.

This is for the second time in a week that curfew has been imposed. Curfew was imposed in Dariyapur and Kalupur police station areas on July 20, following group clashes. It was lifted after two days, but violence continued, although in different areas.