A curfew-like situation prevailed in Kulsumpura and its surrounding localities with the policemen ensuring that the residents remained indoors on Tuesday. No untoward incidents were reported on Tuesday though there was palpable tension in the air following incidents of arson in which mobs set fire to five shops in the locality after groups of different communities indulged in heavy stone pelting late on Monday night.
With the police presence increasing manifold and people of other localities not being allowed into the area, a sense of panic prevailed.
As prohibitory orders were in force banning the assembly of four or more people, police did not allow anyone into the streets. Access to the trouble-prone areas was restricted.
The usually bustling Sabzi Mandi market, which bore the brunt of Monday’s violence, wore a desolate look. Huge quantities of vegetables were left rotting as police did not allow vendors to visit the market to conduct business. Most of the schools and colleges in the area were closed and the State-run city bus services too were curtailed on Ziaguda and Mustaidpura routes. The Ziaguda-Purnapul and Tappachabutra-Puranapul roads too were closed for public. Policemen kept a tight vigil on all the sensitive areas by intensifying patrolling in the locality and its surroundings all through the day.
Contingents of Rapid Action Force (RAF), Quick Response Team (QRT) and Task Force were deployed. “We would monitor the situation and take a decision on Wednesday to allow traffic,” said a senior police official.Local residents are puzzled over the incident of burning a flag belonging to a community. “Most believe that it’s a ploy to create communal disturbances. This is the area that remained peaceful for the last few years,” observed Ram Kishan, a local resident. Meanwhile, the police booked five cases and about 17 persons were detained in connection with the violence.
