Battles rage in Indian state

India is suffering from its worst religious violence in a decade

AHMEDABAD, India (CNN) -- Despite curfews and security forces, two more people have been killed and 30 injured as Hindu and Muslim mobs clashed in the western Indian state of Gujarat.

This brings to 36 the number of people killed in the latest bout of rioting that begun on Sunday, including many who were burned alive in front of their families, CNN's Satinder Bindra reported.

On Friday morning, the burnt shells of homes and stores were evidence of India's worst religious violence in a decade.

The bloodbath was sparked in February when a Muslim mob torched a train carrying Hindu pilgrims, killing 58.

The riots that have followed in Gujarat have left nearly 900 people dead, with some global human rights groups estimating the toll to be much higher.

Firebombs

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In Thursday's violence, about 300 to 400 Muslims and Hindus took part in a battle that lasted well over an hour, with firebombs going off about every minute, according to a CNN crew.

Hundreds of security forces, including army soldiers and members of the state's Federal Rapid Action Force, tried to curb the clashes. Police fired tear gas and warning shots into the air.

Both Hindu and Muslim rioters targeted police with firebombs, Bindra reported.

While the battle calmed, many parts of Ahmedabad -- a city of 4 million people, about 80 percent Hindu -- remained under curfew Friday.

Next Tuesday, India's parliament is scheduled to debate a motion to censure the government for its handling of the crisis.

Public test

The censure motion is viewed as a very public test of the coalition government led by Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee's Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party.

The measure is not expected to pass. But if it did, then by convention the ruling government would have to step down.

"What has happened in Gujarat has shocked us all," opposition congressional member Kapil Sibal told CNN. "We don't want the situation to worsen and spread to other parts of the country."

Many blame the central government as well as Gujarat authorities for failing to prevent rioting Hindu mobs from killing Muslims. Much of the blame has fallen on state chief minister Narendra Modi, who critics say failed to stem the anti-Muslim violence.

Opposition and even some coalition partners have been calling for Modi to be fired. Vajpayee and other government officials have stood by Modi throughout the crisis, resisting calls to sack him.