Curfew Continues In Lucknow City

The indefinite curfew, imposed on six police stations areas of the old city, where sectarian violence broke out on Thursday, continued without relaxation for the second day yesterday while the Uttar Pradesh government decided to arrest about 30 persons, including some religious and political leaders, allegdely responsible for the trouble.

The state administration was also contemplating to invoke provisions of National Security Act against some of the persons, who instigated violence on the occasion of chehellum on Thursday.

Divisional commissioner Desh Dipak Verma told reporters here the administration would not allow the culprits to go scot free and all those responsible for instigating violence would be booked and penalised according to the provisions of the law.

Among those who are to be arrested included Shia leader Maulana Kalbe Jawwad, Verma said, adding that arrests could be effected any time from now.

Verma said there was an overall improvement in the law and order situation in the curfew-bound old city areas.

In view of fast improvement in the situation, the administration was considering to relax the curfew in parts of Aminabad and Wazirganj police stations in phases, he said.

These localities were brought under curefew on Thursday following eruption of violence.