Muzaffarnagar calm, victims being identified

With calm prevailing for the third consecutive day in Uttar Pradesh's violence-hit Muzaffarnagar district Thursday, authorities moved on to identifying the victims, their lost property and began work on rehabilitation.

Officials told IANS that till now their priority was to contain the communal violence -- in which more than 38 people were killed -- and the situation thereafter. But now their focus has shifted to ensuring proper and adequate supply of essential items, reopening of educational institutions and identifying the victims.

"The first half of the week has gone in controlling the violence, we are now focused on bringing life back to normal and the process of identifying people affected by the riots -- deaths, injuries, and loss to property be it home or commercial establishments," an official said.

Home Secretary Kamal Saxena said 10 shelter camps for the displaced in the riots have been set up in which roughly 10,000 people have taken refuge. The relaxation in curfew has also taken place, he added.

Muzaffarnagar witnessed communal violence after the killing of three youths over a stalking incident.