This has been one of the blackest weeks in recent times. The fragile communal peace that held for nine years has been shattered. More than 600 people have been killed and in Ahmedabad alone, 20,000 are huddled into makeshift camps. The prime minister has called the Gujarat riots a "blot" on the image of India. It is also a blot on his government, which once boasted of its ability to ensure a riot-free environment in India. After Gujarat, specially since it was a BJP-ruled state, the boast has proved to be a hollow one. Undoubtedly, the grisly burning of kar sevaks at Godhra was a provocation. But given Ahmedabad's history of communal violence, the administration should have anticipated trouble and taken precautions. Civilised societies do not allow anger to descend into barbarism.

In the aftermath of the riots, the question of whether the state Government connived in the mayhem has acquired importance. Our cover story looks into the role of the state administration, particularly at Chief Minister Narendra Modi. His insensitive utterances have epitomised Gujarat's disgraceful response to an attack on its own citizens.

Evidence against the administration appears mixed. But what is ominous is that the rioters seemed to have a large measure of social sanction. Reports of otherwise respectable middle-class people participating in the vandalism was a chilling symbol of the breakdown of social values.

We tackled this story from several angles: Special Correspondent Uday Mahurkar, who has reported on Gujarat since 1984, and Senior Editor V. Shankar Aiyar studied the vast scale of the riots. Special Correspondent Sheela Raval followed up on the Godhra investigation while Senior Assistant Editor Shishir Gupta looked at the role of the state and Central administrations. Photographers Shailesh Raval, Bhaskar Paul and Bandeep Singh returned with images of unmitigated suffering and horror. Gujarat witnessed the transformation of prejudice into bloody slaughter.

It should shame and warn every Indian.

(Aroon Purie)