Meanwhile, the state government has announced compensation of Rs 2 lakh each to the next of kin of the persons killed in separate incidents on Monday. Chief Minister Keshubhai Patel has instructed the district collector to disburse the sum to the families.

According to official information, two unidentified jeans-clad youths hired an auto-rickshaw (GQG-856) at Narol-Sarkhej highway around 10:30 p.m. They asked him to take them to Hotel Kozi. On reaching the hotel, they asked the auto-rickshaw driver's name. After he told them his name, the two grabbed him stabbed him twice with a flick knife and a dagger. They then fled the spot.

Later, around 2:10 a.m. the auto-rickshaw driver took help from a passer-by and reached V.S. Hospital. He was operated upon and was said to be out of danger.

When contacted, Vatva police first denied having received any complaint. The staff at the police station were not keen on giving details of the incident. They only said that the autorickshaw driver, aged 22, used to live in Khanwadi, near Ramol Road, Vatva GIDC.

In Naranpura, a group of 20 miscreants set a mattress shop opposite Vijaynagar filling station on fire around Monday midnight. A neighbour, Gautam Patel, rang up the police.

A crime branch team headed by Inspector J.L. Jadeja, investigating the murder of Bajrang Dal activist Hari Solanki in Vejalpura, arrested two more persons on Tuesday. Reliable sources said that the two, Yusuf Ismailbhai Bagban, a resident of State Bank Colony, and Shoib Khan Sardar Khan Pathan of Anwar Park, had been instigated by some organisation to commit the crime. They had armed themselves a few days in advance. Sources in police said all assailants had been identified.

Two other suspects in the killing, Iqbal alias China and Mohammad Yunus alias Jamal, who were arrested on Monday, were produced in court on Tuesday and remanded in custody for four days.

In the case of the killing of Bakhtawar Khan, driver of a pick-up rickshaw, near Sardar Bridge, the police have only identified the crime scene. Inspector K.C. Chudasma is investigating the case.

Police claimed no untoward incident was reported from any place in the city. Minister of State for Home Haren Pandya said that patrolling in the sensitive areas was intensified during night hours.

In the last two days police made about 80 preventive arrests. A high-level meeting of police officers and administrators in Gandhinagar reviewed the situation.

The Vishwa Hindu Parishad and Bajarang Dal staged a dharna and condolence meeting near Town Hall on Tuesday in protest against the killing of Bajrang Dal activist Haribhai Solanki. VHP general secretary Pravin Togadia, senior leader K.K. Shastri, state general secretary Dilipbhai Trivedi, Swami Purshottam Charan Shastri, Vishavdasji Maharaj, Member of Parliament Harin Pathak, Mayor Joitaram Patel and several leaders were present.

The VHP also donated a cheque of Rs 1 lakh to the wife of Hari Solanki, while Rs 11,000 were donated by Bachubhai Rambhia, secretary of the Geetaben Rambhia Smriti Ahimsa Trust. Rs 51,000 were donated by MLA Yatin Oza.