Hyderabad calm during curfew relaxation

Hyderabad: The situation in riot-hit parts of Hyderabad on Thursday remained peaceful as police relaxed curfew in the old parts of the city.

Thousands of people, living under curfew for the last three days, came out to buy essential commodities. Long queues were seen outside grocery shops, milk booths and medical stores during the two-hour relaxation period in nine police station limits from 8 a.m. to 10 a.m.

No untoward incident was reported during the relaxation. Though police had announced that women and men above 50 years will be allowed to come out to buy essential goods, a large number of youth were also seen shopping in some areas like Bahadurpura as police could not strictly enforce the restrictions.

Traders exploited the situation by selling the essential commodities at exorbitant prices. In some areas milk was sold for Rs.100 a litre while vegetables cost Rs.50 per kg. Though the government had made some arrangements to supply milk and vegetables, they proved inadequate.

Curfew will be relaxed from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. in areas falling under the limits of eight other police stations in the old parts of the city.

Police Commissioner AK Khan said there would be no relaxation in eight police station areas of the new city where curfew was imposed Tuesday night after communal clashes.

The riots, which broke out last week over putting up of religious flags, have so far claimed two lives and left over 150 injured.