Bikaner: Curfew was on Monday relaxed for four and half hours even as tension continued to prevail in violence-hit Sridungargarh here, an official said.
Normalcy was observed in the city from 9 am to 1330 hrs as people were busy buying their essential commodities including food, vegetables, fruits, and dairy products as the curfew was relaxed, the SP Bikaner Santosh C Chalke told PTI.
No untoward incident occurred during the relaxation period, and the curfew, which was initially relaxed up to 1500 hrs, was reimposed at 1330 hrs as a precautionary measure when a group of business community did not open their shops demanding arrest of accused, the SP said.
Rajasthan Minister of State for Mines Rajkumar Rinwa who is minister-incharge of Bikaner district has been camping in the city since yesterday and addressed a "peace committee meeting" to bring normalcy in the city, the SP said.
A preliminary survey of damage due to clashes and arson in Sridungargarh on October 24, 42 vendor carts and five shops were set on fire, he said, adding 83 persons who have been arrested so far and sent to judicial custody.
Tension continues to prevail in the city, but the situation is under control as no toward incident has been reported from the area since October 24, he said.
Additional force of about 500 jawans, including two companies of Rajasthan Armed Constabulary, have been patrolling in the troubled areas of the city, which is 70 kms from here, Chalke said.
The trouble started on Friday when a religious procession was crossing a shrine belonging another community in village Gusaisar. The people in the shrine asked the other group to stop the music, but the latter did not relent which led to a confrontation, the SP said.
At least 12 persons, including four policemen, were injured as the two sides indulged in stone pelting, he said, adding they all were discharged later at night after treatment.
