Normalcy prevailed in Punjab on Saturday as authorities continued to give day-time relaxation in curfew in areas which had witnessed tension in the wake of the killing of a sect leader in Vienna.
In Jalandhar and Phagwara, authorities announced relaxation in curfew from 6 am to 10 pm. While curfew was relaxed from 6 am to 8 pm in Ludhiana, it was relaxed from 6 am to 7 pm in Malout town in Muktsar. Day curfew was also lifted in Hoshiarpur, officials said.
However, night curfew would continue to remain in force at all the five places as a precautionary measure.
In Muktsar, Additional Deputy Commissioner Gurpreet Singh Gill reviewed the situation. He also convened a meeting of the 21-member peace committee comprising members of various religious and political groups.
Curfew was imposed in Jalandhar, Phagwara, Hoshiarpur, Ludhiana and Malout after violence sparked off by the killing of the sect leader Rama Nand in Vienna.
While schools were closed on account of summer holidays, all commercial establishments, including banks were open and rail and road traffic was running smoothly.
{{/usCountry}}While schools were closed on account of summer holidays, all commercial establishments, including banks were open and rail and road traffic was running smoothly.
{{/usCountry}}The situation in neighbouring Haryana, which witnessed violence in Ambala, Jagadhri and Nariangarh was also peaceful.
Punjab witnessed large-scale violence and arson after followers of Sikh religious sect Dera Sachkhand Ballan took to the streets on Sunday night in protest against the attack on their leaders in a Vienna Gurudwara.