Zee Media Bureau/Tarun Khanna
Muzaffarnagar: Curfew imposed on riot affected Muzaffarnagar has been lifted on Monday from all areas soon after Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, UPA president Sonia Gandhi and vice president Rahul Gandhi visited the district earlier in the day.
The curfew was clamped since the district was set ablaze after violent riots over August 27 eve-teasing incident. The communal violence that broke out later have claimed more than 45 lives. The Army had taken over the charge of the district immediately after the situation went out of control.
PM today called the riots a ‘tragic incident’ and assured that guilty will be penalised. The trio stayed in the district for two hours and visited three relief camps where riot-hit people are taking shelter.
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav, who has been criticised from all corners for being incapable to curb the violence, visited the area on Sunday and assured to provide justice to the riot victims.
The central government has also filed an affidavit in the Supreme Court against the riots. Thousands had abandoned their homes in the fear of violence and had taken refuge in the safer areas.
A strong posse of state policemen and Rapid Action Force (RAF) personnel had manned each and every location in the city during the VVIP visit, official sources said.
The district administration had made arrangements for the PM`s visit with top officials from Lucknow.
The District Magistrate had said that schools will reopen from today for the first time after they were closed in view of curfew.
The Prime Minister had announced compensation of Rs 200,000 to the kin of each of those killed in communal clashes.
Akhilesh Yadav was welcomed with black flags and slogan shouting by angry villagers.
Kawaal village is the core of the incident of August 27 wherein three youths were killed.
A `mahapanchayat` which was later held added fuel to the fire in Muzaffarnagar and nearby areas, forcing the government to call in the Army to control the situation.
