Curfew lifted for 2 hrs, normalcy yet to be restored in AP town

Adilabad, Oct 14 (UNI) The curfew, clamped in the communally sensitive Bhainsa town was lifted for two hours today, for the first time since the communal clashes, erupted during an immersion procession on October 10, even as the people were in the grip of fear as normalcy was not yet fully restored.

District Superintendent of Police (DSP) Anil Kumar told UNI here that the curfew was relaxed from 1100 hrs to 1300 hrs and people came out of their houses to purchase essential commodities. No fresh clashes were reported during the period, he said, adding that the situation was under control though some tension prevailed in the town.

He said the curfew would be lifted for two hours tomorrow also.

Though tension prevailed in the town, the situation in Nirmal and Asifabad towns was under control, he said, adding that the curfew, which was in force in Bhainsa, would be lifted in a phased manner depending on the situation.

Andhra Pradesh Home Minister K Jana Reddy said the situation in Bhainsa and surrounding areas was under control. Additional forces were deployed in the area along with the Rapid Action Force(RAF), and mobile patrolling was being conducted in the surrounding villages of Bhainsa town to maintain law and order.

Meanwhile, a delegation of the CPI(M), led by its floor leader Nomula Narasimhaiah, today met the Home Minister and submitted a memorandum, urging him to take strict action against the culprits involved in communal clashes and in the Vottoli incident, where six members of a family were burnt alive.

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