Night curfew to be lifted in Gorakhpur

Gorakhpur, Feb 15 (UNI) With normalcy being restored in this riot-racked eastern district of Uttar Pradesh, night curfew would be lifted from today.

''The district administration has decided to lift the night curfew in all the four police station areas after almost 19 days.

However, police would be pressed into round the clock service as the administration is in no mood to take any risk,'' Additional District Magistrate, Gorakhpur P K Agarwal today said.

Day curfew had already been lifted from the town on January 12, though curfew was continuing at night as a precautionary measure from 2200 hrs to 0600 hrs.

On January 27, curfew was clamped in Kotwali, Rajghat and Tiwaripur police station areas, following a communal flareup at a 'barat' procession on the Republic Day.

Day after, curfew was also imposed in Gorakhnath police station area. Besides, section 144 (prohibitory orders) and shoot at sight orders were also issued against the violators.

UNI