Prayers peaceful; curfew relaxed further

Police extended curfew relaxation period by five more hours as prayers on Friday passed off peacefully in all parts of the city, including the areas in 25 curfew-clamped police stations.

HYDERABAD, 09/04/2010: All relegieous leaders taking out a peace rally after the Fridy prayer at Macca Masjid in Hyderabad on Friday. PHOTO: K. RAMESH BABU

Curfew is relaxed from 5 a.m. to 10 p.m. on Saturday, and if the peaceful atmosphere continues it could be lifted completely from Sunday, Hyderabad Police Commissioner, A.K. Khan, told reporters.

Arrests

Thanking people and political parties in restoring normalcy in localities that witnessed communal clashes killing three persons, he said 275 persons were arrested so far in 185 cases.

“We're taking action only if evidence is available. In case of any complaints with regard to arrests, people can approach me or Additional Commissioner of Police, Dwaraka Tirumala Rao, with proofs,” he said.

Surrender

Mr. Khan refused to comment about Telugu Desam corporator, Raju Singh, who was handed over to the Market police in the noon having surrendered himself before the Task Force officials, stating that he would not prefer to speak about individual cases.

Huge contingents of police, including para-military forces, were deployed at all the communally sensitive points in old city for the Juma prayers.

No untoward incident was reported in any part of the city during curfew on the intervening night of Thursday and Friday and when it was relaxed during the day.