Curfew was relaxed in phases for eight hours on Friday in Uttarakhand's Rudrapur town where communal clashes on October 1 left four persons dead and over 20 injured.
"The situation is tense, but under control," Divisional Commissioner of Kumaon, Kunal Sharma, said. No incidence of violence has been reported from any area, he said, adding that the curfew was relaxed from 7 am to 9 am in the morning and then 12 noon to 6 pm keeping in mind residents' need to buy day-to-day items.
More than 200 people have been taken into custody in the case till now, he said.
Police personnel and jawans from the Rapid Action Force are keeping strict vigil in sensitive areas, he said. Religious prayers in the town passed off peacefully, Deputy Inspector General Abhinav Kumar, who is supervising law and order situation at Rudrapur, said.
Kumar said the authorities might lift curfew in the day time on Saturday as part of confidence boosting exercise. Meanwhile, senior police and administrative officials are also holding talks with religious leaders in order to restore lasting peace in the area.
Industrial workers at the nearby Pantnagar industrial estate have resumed their duties. A high-level investigation has been ordered into the violence that occurred on October 1, sources said.
Indefinite curfew was imposed in the town after communal clashes over an alleged act of sacrilege leading to mobs torching shops and vehicles.
