Curfew relaxed for 9 hours, five rumour-mongers held

The district administration today relaxed prohibitory orders for nine hours, as the law and order situation improved a day after curfew was imposed following widespread protests triggered by a slaughtered animal being found near a place of worship.
Prohibitory orders have been relaxed for nine hours during the day though it has been decided to put in place the Section 144 under CrPC between 8 PM to 9 AM as a precautionary measure, District Magistrate Animesh Kumar said.
The prohibitory orders had been relaxed for three hours between 3 PM and 6 PM yesterday.
Shops and markets opened at 11 AM today and normalcy appeared to return in the town, but some "mischievous" elements "spread rumour" through mobile phones aimed at vitiating peace and law and order, he said, adding that five such persons were arrested.

Rumours spread rapidly and both buyers and sellers in the market ran for their lives, the district magistrate said refusing to elaborate on content of the rumours.
District officials visited spots like Saudagar Patti, Nemchand Road, Paschim Pali, College Road and surrounding areas to calm the people, he said, adding, people have been urged to guard against rumours and inform the administration about identities of those indulging in such activities.
Meanwhile, the new Superintendent of Police Naveen Chandra Jha took charge from the outgoing SP Deepak Barnwal who has been transferred to the state capital and posted in the same rank with the special branch of Bihar police.