This Article is From Mar 31, 2010

Uneasy calm in Hyderabad as curfew continues

Uneasy calm in Hyderabad as curfew continues
Hyderabad: An uneasy calm prevailed in riot-hit parts of Hyderabad on Wednesday as curfew continued in 25 police station areas in Hyderabad.

Sporadic incidents of violence continued till late on Tuesday even after police brought eight more police station areas under curfew following clashes in new city localities.

The indefinite curfew, imposed in 17 police station limits of the old city on Monday night, continued without any relaxation while police top brass have issued shoot-at-sight orders to policemen.

Police and paramilitary forces are keeping a tight vigil in all curfew-bound areas and strictly enforcing the restrictions to avert any untoward incident.

Police Commissioner A.K. Khan said any decision on relaxing the curfew would be taken after a review of the situation later in the day.

One person was stabbed to death and dozens, including three police officers, were injured in clashes and stone pelting since Tuesday evening. Police fired rubber bullets and used teargas shells to disperse clashing groups in Begumbazar, a commercial hub adjoining the old city.

Deputy Commissioner of Police, traffic, Ravi Verma was injured on Tuesday night in the stone pelting by miscreants at Seetarambagh in Asifnagar.

Earlier, large scale violence broke out during Hanuman Jayanti processions in Musheerabad, Bholakpur, Mangal Hat and other areas. Rioters attacked houses and set afire dozens of vehicles.

The police decision to allow processions in several areas despite prohibitory orders in the city has come under criticism from various sections of people.

The toll in the violence rose to two when a youth was stabbed to death in Karwan area. The communal clashes, which broke out Saturday following a dispute over religious flags, have also left over 150 people injured.

With more areas coming under curfew, authorities have postponed Class 10 examinations for Wednesday and Thursday at 410 centres in curfew-bound areas. The Osmania University has also postponed its degree examinations.

As Mahatma Gandhi Bus Station, the biggest bus station in the city, has also come under curfew, state-owned Road Transport Corporation (RTC) shifted the bus operations to other areas.

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