No Moharram procession in riot-hit Gorakhpur

The traditional Moharram procession will not be taken out in the city in view of the prevailing tense situation.

Keeping in view the prevailing tense situation, the traditional Moharram procession would not be taken out in the town on Tuesday even as curfew was relaxed in the violence-hit areas in the afternoon.

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The traditional Moharram procession will not be taken out in the city in view of the prevailing tense situation, district police chief SK Bhagat told reporters in Gorakhpur.

He said the decision was arrived in consultation with the Muslim Ulemas. "It has been agreed that only a symbolic procession will be taken out," he said adding the priests also realised that the situation was "not normal".

Meanwhile the administration relaxed the curfew for three hours from 12.00 am, police sources said adding the situation was under control.

The new district magistrate and SSP had met the arrested BJP MP Yogi Adityanath in the district jail on Monday night in a bid to defuse the tension prevailing in the city and adjoining districts following his arrest.

Barring a report of torching of some vehicles in Khorabar area near Gorakhpur, no fresh incident of violence had been reported from anywhere since Tuesday morning, sources said.

Police lathicharged BJP workers in Deoria when the latter indulged in stone pelting during a demonstration in protest against the MP's arrest.