BBC News after Noon with Michael Blakey reporting from New Delhi.

“Thirteen Sikhs were killed in rioting in three towns near Delhi. In one incident, a mob stopped two express trains and dragged off two Sikhs, killing one and badly injuring another.

Reporting from Delhi, Michael Blakey.

This morning, Delhi was under curfew and orders had been given to the military to shoot arsonists on site. They’d had a busy night. After a day in which more than 100 people had been killed, throughout the country, the streets were littered with burned out cars and taxis, most of them owned by Sikhs, who operate most of the transport in the city. They’d taken the full fury of the violent backlash after the assassination of Mrs Gandhi. This morning, after a night of terror, every Sikh taxi driver was off the streets. A new luxury coach was destroyed, close to a government building.

One of the most horrific deaths on a night which saw some of the worst violence since partition happened in the garden of an opposition MP, Mr Ram Villas Paswan. A Sikh taxi driver chased by the mob, sought refuge in the home of Mr Paswan. He ran for what he thought was safety, but he was caught. He was then doused with petrol. Someone lit a match and the taxi driver burnt to death.

The worst thing that can happen in the country is now happening. There is no law and order in this country. If this can happen, leading opposition’s house, what happens to the common man in the street? This happened to, he was burned alive in that car. He was burned alive in the garage along with the car.

At the home of Ram Villas Paswan MP

Why?

Just because he belongs to the minority community. Sardar [Sikh]. Because one Sardar did it, it doesn’t mean that every Sardar is responsible. If one Hindu does, it means that. It doesn’t mean that every Hindu is responsible. This is what happened to the secularism of this country during the last 37 years. Such a tragedy.

All this happened just 300 yards from the main parliament building and then the home of the MP was put to the torch. I was told that six calls were made to the police. They never turned up.

So this morning the army was in control. They were heavily enforced around the Connaught Circus, the main shopping centre in the centre of New Delhi. Overnight, the mobs had set fire to hotels, banks, offices, even a cinema, all owned by members of the Sikh community. Today, the shops were closed. The city, recovering from a night of terror and revenge, was strangely quiet. The only people doing business were the flower sellers. They were making wreaths for the mourners, who will tomorrow attend the cremation of the woman who for almost 20 years led the biggest democracy in the world and died at the hands of two assassins. Tomorrow, in a field not far from the centre of the city, hundreds of thousands of Indians and politicians and leaders from all around the world will pay their last respects to a remarkable woman who led her country out of poverty. The site being prepared today is close to the spot where both her father and her son Sanjay were also cremated. After being carried through the streets of Delhi, she too will be cremated. The fear is that when the ceremony is over, it could signal another outbreak of murder, looting, arson and violence.

The Indian security forces are mounting a huge operation to ensure the safety of more than 50 world leaders, arriving for Mrs. Gandhi’s state funeral tomorrow.  Mrs Thatcher will be flying to Delhi this afternoon. Extra armed Special Branch men will be on the flight she’s taking with the opposition leaders Mr. Neil Kinnock, Mr David Steele and Dr. David Owen. Princess Anne will represent the Queen and will fly home straight afterwards, cutting short her visit to the subcontinent. The Soviet Prime Minister Nikolai Tikhonov is on his way from Moscow. While he’s in Delhi he’s expected to have talks with the American Secretary of State, Mr. Schultz, who will be representing the US Government. BBC Television News will be mounting a special programme tomorrow morning on BBC Two, which will bring first pictures of Mrs. Gandhi’s funeral. Final arrangements for the funeral are still being made in New Delhi but we expect to be on the air tomorrow morning at around 1030.”

BBC News after Noon report from India on 2 November 1984.