By IANS,
Lucknow : With normalcy returning fast to the trouble-torn areas in Uttar Pradesh’s Moradabad city days after a communal clash left 13 people injured, the authorities Tuesday decided to relax the curfew clamped in parts of the city for 16 hours, an official said.
“During a meeting of police and district authorities, it has been decided that curfew would now be relaxed from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m.,” Superintendent of Police (City) Piyush Srivastava told reporters in Moradabad, some 250 km from Lucknow.
“The duration of the relaxation of curfew would be the same for all the areas under the six police stations – Kotwali, Galshaheed, Mughalpura, Majhola, Nagphani and Katghar – where curfew was clamped following a communal clash Aug 9,” he added.
Police and security personnel are carrying out flag marches at regular intervals in the trouble-hit areas of Moradabad.
“We are also being assisted by social organisations for restoring peace,” said Srivastava.
Curfew was clamped after violence broke out in Dasarai locality following heated arguments between some Kanwariyas (Hindu devotees of Lord Shiva) and local Muslims.
Members from both the communities resorted to firing, stone-pelting and fought pitched battles with police. A police outpost in Aslatpur area and several vehicles were also set on fire.
According to police, over 50 people from both the communities have been arrested till now for their alleged involvement in violence.