As a matter of urgency, the government needs to deliver justice to the victims and protect those people who have been displaced.

'If the government of Gujarat does not investigate promptly, independently and thoroughly, those who perpetrated the violence will remain free to do it again and again,' Amnesty International said.

The violence in the state is reported to have reached unprecedented levels of brutality. Eyewitnesses and relief workers have suggested that much of the violence was organised and planned. There are further reports that the administration and police may have colluded with the attackers.

Amnesty International is particularly concerned about the situation of displaced people. At least 50,000 people are living in 20 relief camps in Ahmedabad alone and over 40,000 persons are living in camps in other cities. There have been also reports of direct attacks on the camps.