Curfew was imposed in the city following clashes over an objectionable video, allegedly circulated by two students.
The curfew had been imposed last night but was relaxed for three hours this evening as the situation remained under control, District Magistrate Akashdeep told reporters here.
The curfew, however, will remain in force during the night, he said.
Also Read
The tension gripped the city after the video, which allegedly hurt religious sentiments, went viral on social media, said the DM adding the curfew had to be imposed last night and people were asked to stay indoors to maintain peace and the law and order.
As the situation remained under control today, the restrictions were relaxed from 3 pm to 6 pm, he said, while making an appeal to the people to keep calm and do not pay attention to rumours.
As the tension gripped the city, the city police swung into action promptly and arrested the two students who had allegedly circulated the objectionable video.
The police later produced them before the which remanded them to judicial custody.
Despite the prompt action by the police, the protests started on roads last evening and markets were closed in panic.
DM Akashdeep along with SP Manoj Kumar Jha visited some
vulnerable areas of the city and urged people to keep calm. But, as reports of clashes and firing were received late evening, indefinite curfew was imposed.
Akashdeep said a person was reportedly injured in the clash, but he is out of danger.
Zonal IG A Satish Ganeshand DIG Pravin Kumar rushed to Kheri late in the night and reviewed the situation in troubled areas where heavy police force has been deployed.
Divisional Commissioner Bhuvanesh Kumar, who too was camping in the city, said the situation is under control.
Amid elaborate security arrangements and intensive patrolling, no untoward incident was reported from the curfew-bound city today.
A peace committee meeting with members of both communities, office bearers of all major political parties, vyapar mandal leaders was held at collectorate in which Commissioner, IG, DIG, DM and SP invited opinions and complaints from people and sought their active cooperation to restore peace and harmony.
In the meeting, the IG promised to take prompt and effective action against the objectionable video.
He said the arrests had been made in this connection and said narco and polygraphic tests would be carried on those who prepared and circulated the objectionable video, which disturbed the peace in the city, known for peaceful co-existence.
