Curfew relaxed for 11 hours in Aligarh

Aligarh, Apr 16 (UNI) An 11-hour-relaxation was allowed in the three curfew bound police station areas of this city of locks, where communal flare up on April six claimed eight lives.

Senior Police Superintendent (Aligarh) Akhil Kumar told UNI that in view of the situation in the riot-hit city fast returning to normal, indefinite curfew was relaxed for 11 hours in Kotwali, Delhi Gate and Sasni Gate from 0730 hrs to 1830 hrs.

In some localities of the three police station areas which had bore brunt of the riots, curfew was relaxed for six hours from 1000 hrs to 1600 hrs, he added.

The curfew in the two other police station areas -- Gandhi Gate and Banna Devi -- was lifted yesterday, following restoration of normalcy there, Mr kumar said.

The police were on their toes during the curfew relaxation period and as many as 322 people had been arrested so far for violation of curfew and indulgence in violence.

Exhaustive search in the Dahiwali Gali and Kanwarganj areas, have led to the recovery of eight countrymade pistols and 12 knives and daggers, Mr Kumar informed.

UNI ARS YA RS1717