Hyderabad: Curfew relaxed for two hours,

Hyderabad, Apr 1 : Curfew was relaxed in areas around the Charminar in old Hyderabad on Thursday for two hours to allow people to buy essential commodities.This is the first time that curfew was relaxed since it was imposed for an indefinite period on Monday evening following communal clashes.Earlier, Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister K Rosaiah and Leader of Opposition N Chandrababu Naidu appealed to the people to observe discipline following reports of fresh clashes.It has been reported that at least eight persons, including two cops were injured as protestors' pelted stones during a Hanuman Jayanti procession that led to communal clashes in new areas of the city.Meanwhile, the Central Government has deployed over 1800 troops in sensitive areas to maintain law and order.Over 130 persons, suspected to be involved in communal clashes, have been taken into custody so far, police said.The Andhra Pradesh Government on Monday had ordered the deployment of additional security forces in old Hyderabad City where tension prevails, following overnight clashes between the two communities.The Rapid Action Force (RAF) and the state police were earlier deployed in Moosa Bowli, Hussaini Alam, Purana Pul, Begum Bazar, and nearby areas to restore peace following incidents of stone-pelting and assault on religious places, houses, shops and vehicles.The Strife started in the Moosa Bowli area when the majority Hindu community reportedly removed green flags installed by and installed saffron ones during a recent festival. The heated exchanges later snowballed into clashes between both groups.
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Situation peaceful in Hyderabad as curfew relaxed

Hyderabad, April 1 : The situation in riot-hit parts of Hyderabad Thursday remained peaceful while people in curfew-bound areas of the city got some relief with authorities relaxing the curfew for two hours.No untoward incident was reported from any of the areas in the old city, where curfew was relaxed in two phases, police said. Thousands of people, living under curfew for the last three days, came out to buy essential commodities. Long queues were seen outside grocery shops, milk booths and medical stores during the relaxation. Though police had announced that women and men above 50 years will only be allowed to come out to buy essential goods, a large number of youth were also seen shopping in some areas like Bahadurpura as police could not strictly enforce the restrictions. Traders exploited the situation by selling the essential commodities at exorbitant prices. In some areas milk was sold for Rs.100 a litre while vegetables cost Rs.50 per kg. Though the government had made some arrangements to supply milk and vegetables, they proved inadequate. Police had a tough time in controlling the crowds at vegetable markets and milk booths. People complained that, taking advantage of the situation, the traders jacked up prices. Home Minister P. Sabita Indra Reddy told reporters that four traders were arrested for selling essential commodities at very high rates. She said the authorities supplied 28 trucks of vegetables and 45,000 litres of milk in 17 police station areas. Curfew was relaxed from 8 a.m. to 10 a.m. in nine police station limits and from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. in eight police station limits. Police Commissioner A.K. Khan said there would be no relaxation in eight police station areas of the new city where curfew was imposed Tuesday night after communal clashes. The riots, which broke out last week over putting up of religious flags, have so far claimed two lives and left over 150 injured. The home minister said a decision on relaxing curfew for Friday prayers would be taken in the evening after a review of the situation. She said 10 more companies of paramilitary forces had reached the city and were being deployed. This is in addition to 21 companies already deployed in the riot-hit areas.
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