Hit by large-scale violence following the verdict against Dera chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh earlier this week, the life in Sirsa town started limping back to normalcy with people stepping out of their houses on Sunday morning to buy essential items after the administration allowed five hours relaxation in the curfew till noon.
Parshuram Chowk in the heart of the city was teeming with activities around 9 a.m. with the men and women turning out in large numbers to buy groceries, vegetables and medicines.
"It was anticipated and we had stored vegetables and groceries for almost a week. But the supply of milk was hit,” said Rohit, who had come to buy fruits after he came to know about the relaxation in curfew from morning newspaper.
Rajan Khurana, who had come to buy medicines for his diabetic mother, said that though chemist shops inside hospitals were open he preferred not to come out because of curfew. “Though everyone's life is hit by curfew, the patients and the children bear the brunt,” said Rajan.
The past two days were particularly difficult for Tek Chand, a cobbler. Hoping to make a few bucks during the curfew relaxation, Tek Chand, 65, had come early today. He said that he had to borrow money to meet his basic needs.
Ajay Sachdeva, who owns a mobile shop, said that he had come to dust off the premises since it was lying closed for the past two days. “I do not expect any business because the priority now is the items of everyday use. But a friend called me in the morning saying that the market was open. So I also decided to come,” said Mr. Sachdeva, adding that the local administration had managed to control the situation well and not allowed the violence to spill over.
Narender Kansal, another shopkeeper, said the he hoped the situation to become normal in the next couple of days after the quantum of sentence was announced on Monday. “It was good for us that the judgement was pronounced in Panchkula. Had it been in Sirsa court, the situation could have been worse," added Shankar.
The administration also allowed the locals to go past the barricades on the road leading to Dera headquarters in a bid to normalise the situation. But a team of ETV news channel was attacked allegedly by Dera followers after they went too close to the Dera headquarters in the morning to take shots. The Dera followers allegedly surrounded the team's vehicle and one of them even threw a brick on it. The driver accompanying the team was beaten up. However, the followers could be seen relaxing on both sides of the road outside the Dera headquarters in the morning during relaxation in curfew.
