Thaindian News

Lucknow, Aug 12 (IANS) The authorities Friday further relaxed the curfew in Uttar Pradesh’s Moradabad city with normalcy returning to trouble-torn areas where a communal clash left around 13 people injured, police said.

“The curfew was today relaxed for seven hours from 10 a.m. in areas under Mughalpura, Nagphani and Kotwali police stations,” Superintendent of Police (City) Piyush Srivastava told IANS on phone from Moradabad, some 250 km from here.

“Likewise, in the rest of the trouble-hit areas coming under Majhola, Katghar and Galshaheed police stations, the relaxation was for four hours from 12 noon. No fresh violence has been reported from any part of the city,” he added.

Curfew was clamped late Tuesday in areas under the six police stations after violence broke out in Dasarai locality following heated arguments between some Kanwariyas (Lord Shiva’s devotees) and local Muslims.

Members from both communities Tuesday resorted to firing, stone-pelting and fought pitched battles with the police. A police outpost in Aslatpur area and several vehicles were also set on fire.

According to police, around 50 people from both communities have been arrested till now for their alleged involvement in violence.

Tuesday’s violence is linked to an Aug 7 dispute between the two groups, said a police officer, who declined to be identified.

“On that day (Saturday), Kanwariyas wanted to take out their procession from an undeclared route, while members of the minority community were strictly against it. The Kanwariyas then resorted to arson and vandalism,” he said.