Punjab limping back to normalcy

The situation remained by and large peaceful in trouble-hit Punjab today with authorities relaxing curfew in Jalandhar, Phagwara and Hoshiarpur, which witnessed violent protests in the wake of the killing of a sect leader in Vienna.  

Curfew was relaxed in Jalandhar for three hours.   

"We have given relaxation in the curfew for three hours i.e. 0700 to 1000, during which people can buy essential goods," Jalandhar Deputy Commissioner A S Pannu told PTI.  

He said the situation was peaceful in Jalandhar district barring few incidents of minor violence.  

Curfew would remain in force for some more period as a precautionary measure and commercial and educational institutes would remain closed till further orders, Pannu said.  

He said it would take some time to completely restore rail and road traffic.   

Punjab Police and para-military forces would continue to be deployed at several sensitive points, he added.   

Curfew was relaxed for three hours in Phagwara and Hoshiapur where the situation remained by and large peaceful, police said.  

Punjab witnessed large-scale violence and arson after followers of Sikh religious sect Dera Sachkhand Ballan took to the streets since Sunday night in protest against the killing of their religious leader in a Vienna Gurudwara.