Curfew was relaxed for two hours on Thursday in parts of communal violence-hit old city but the government said there will be no ease in prohibitory orders tomorrow even as people complained of prices of essential items skyrocketing. Apprehending trouble on the occasion of Friday prayers, the Andhra Pradesh government decided not to relax curfew in the city.
"There will be no relaxation of curfew tomorrow. We will make arrangements for the supply of essential items," state Home Minister P Sabita Reddy told reporters after a review of the law and order situation conducted by Chief Minister K Rosaiah. The city police would put in place tight security measures, including installing CCTV cameras, to trace the trouble-makers.
Police Commissioner A K Khan and other city police officials would hold talks with community leaders and religious personalities to facilitate the Friday prayers in the curfew-imposed localities, Reddy said. Police would also take the help of peace committees which once existed in various localities, she said. No untoward incident has been reported from curfew-bound and other areas in the city today though the curfew was relaxed for two hours in two slots, she said.
Though common people had a relief as curfew was relaxed from 8 am to 10 am in Santoshnagar and Charminar sub-divisions and 11 am to 1 pm in Mirchowk and Faluknuma in the old city, they had to put up with exorbitant prices of essential food items. "Milk was being sold for Rs 100 a litre. We need milk to feed the children. How can we pay this high price," a resident complained.Other essential food items like vegetables and fruits were also sold for abnormally high prices, people alleged.
Though the state government has arranged mobile outlets for selling vegetables and other items, many complained that they did not have access to them.
Reddy said four persons have been taken into custody for allegedly exploiting consumers and promised to take tough action against traders who indulged in malpractices.
There was, however, no let up in eight other police station limits outside the old city areas where curfew was imposed from Tuesday. In an effort to spread the message of peace, policemen released some pigeons in the old city today, while a NGO organised a peace walk. Two persons were killed and about 90 injured since the communal violence rocked the old city of Hyderabad on Saturday last. Curfew was imposed for an indefinite period on March 29 evening following the clashes which erupted over putting up religious flags on the occasion of Hanuman Jayanti. PTI
Latest India News
