Curfew relaxed for 6 hours in two phases

Hyderabad Apr 4: The indefinite curfew, clamped in 25 police station limits in Hyderabad since Monday last in the wake of killing of two people in communal violence since March 27, was relaxed for six hours in two phases, providing much needed relief to the people reeling under restrictions for the seventh day today.Relieved over the return of peace to trouble-torn areas, the Hyderabad Police first relaxed curfew for three hours from 0700 hrs in eight Police Stations of Tappachabutra, Asifnagar, Mangalhat, Kulsumpura,Shahinayathgunj, Habeebnagar, Begumbazar and Afzalgunj in West-East-Central zones. Curfew was then relaxed for another three hours from 1000 hrs in 17 Police Station limits in Charminar, Hussainialam, Kamatipura, Bahadhurpura, Kalapathar, Falaknuma, Chatrinaka, Shahalibanda, Moghalpura, Bhavaninagar, Dabeerpura, Mirchowk, Reinbazar, Madannapet, Santhoshnagar, Kanchanbagh and Chandrayangutta, in the communally sensitive South Zone. Thousands of young and old came out of their homes and queued up to buy milk vegetables and groceries. Long queues were also seen in front of medical shops.City Police Commissioner A K Khan told mediapersons that if the present situation continued, they would consider lifting curfew during daytime tomorrow. Police continued heavy deployment of central para-military forces, besides the state forces including the elite OCTOPUS personnel, even as authorities made extensive arrangements for distribution of essential commodities, commoners complained that unscrupulous traders were charging double the market rate to make a quick money. No untoward incident was reported during the curfew relaxation period, Mr Khan said. Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister K Rosaiah had asked the police to consider relaxation of curfew for a longer spell to reduce the hardships of the general public, while taking stern action against trouble-makers and rumour mongers.                    (photo by RSJ Thomas)
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