Curfew relaxed till 10 pm

Authorities have decided to relax curfew up to 10 p.m from Friday as situation in the communal riot-hit city remained peaceful in all the 25 police station limits.

The authorities took this decision as Friday prayers passed off peacefully with no untoward incident being reported from any part of the city.Curfew was earlier announced to have been in force from 6 am to 6 pm in the wake of killing of three people since March 27.

Security was tightened for Friday prayers in all mosques and senior police officials, including city Police Commissioner AK Khan, was constantly monitoring the situation in the curfew-clamped areas, including the Old City.

Khan, who toured the Old City, told newsmen that in view of the peaceful situation and peaceful Friday prayers, the curfew would be relaxed by another four hours on Friday and it would be maintained from Saturday.

The final decision on total lifting of the curfew would be taken after review meeting with the authorities in a day or two, he added.He said the police would take action against the persons involved in the violent incidents with definite proofs.

The situation was ''peaceful and fully under control,'' he said, adding no untoward incident has been reported during the curfew relaxation period.