Situation tense, curfew relaxed

Bangalore, Jan 22 (UNI) The situation in the riot-hit areas of Bangalore was tense this morning with life slowly limping back to normalcy.

A-12-year old boyw was killed in police firing and 50 others, including policemen, were injured in the violence that flared up in a number of areas in Eastern parts of the city yesterday.

No fresh incidents of violence were reported last night in the trouble hit areas where night curfew had been clamped.

Additional Police Commissioner Bipin Gopalakrishna said the curfew in Shivajinagar, Bharatinagar and Halsur, Tannery Road, K G Halli and Thimmaiah Road last night, was relaxed in the morning.

Security forces, including CRPF, RAF and armed reserve policemen held flag march to build confidence in the people. Additional forces were summoned from Coimbatore and Hyderabad.

The prohibitory orders under section 144 Cr P C continued to be in force in the trouble-torn areas where heavy forces had been deployed to stop recurrence of violence, he said.

Leaders and officials, including Dharam Singh, Shivajinagar BJP legislator Katta Subramanya Naidu and Police Commissioner Neelam Achyuta Rao visited the Government Borwing Hospital and enquired about the health of those admitted.

25 people were arrested and more than 400 people taken into custody in connection with the violence.

Schools in the riot-hit areas were closed for the day as a precautionary measure.

A constable, who was alleged stabbed during the violence yesterday continued to be in critical condition, while the body of the 12-year-old boy, the victim of the police firing, was yet to be identified the police officials said.

Later speaking to mediapersons Mr Dharam Singh alleged that the state government has failed to protect the lives and properties of the public and anarchy prevailed in the city.

Director General and Inspector General of Police K R Srinivasan speaking to mediapersons informed that as no fresh reports of violence was reported the night curfew imposed in certain parts of the city was withdrawn. As a precautionery measure prohibitory orders have been imposed and a strict vigil was maintained to thwart any more untoward incident in the city.

The trouble sparked off on Friday evening when groups of people from Bharatinagar area, going to a meeting to protest execution of deposed Iraqi President Saddam Hussan in Shivajinagar stadium, indulged in group clashes. After a lull on Saturday, violence again erupted during the yatra taken out as part of a religious function.

UNI