The indefinite curfew in the silk town of Sualkuchi in Kamrup (Rural) district will be relaxed for three hours today to allow people to buy essential goods even as the Army conducted flag marches.
Taking stock of the situation from district deputy commissioner S K Roy, Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi directed him to relax the curfew to facilitate the people to buy essential goods. This would be from 1 PM to 4 PM, according to official sources.
Gogoi also directed the Home Secretary, senior police officials and the DC to have a meeting later to discuss the situation and chalk out a plan to normalise the situation in Sualkuchi.
Prohibitory order under Section 144 of the CrPC was clamped in the town from 2 PM yesterday after the situation turned uncontrollable with anti-artificial silk protesters burning clothes from shops and pelting stones at security personnel, who retaliated by firing, injuring 13 people.
Inspector General of Police and other senior civil officials have reached the area, the sources said.
Six persons were picked up last night in connection with yesterday's violence.
The weavers and public were protesting since Friday against sale of clothes labelled 'Assam Silk' claiming that this was artificial silk being sold at high price by unscrupulous traders and not genuine pure Assamese golden Muga Silk and white Paat Silk which is unique to the state.
