Poonch curfew lifted, community leaders agree to keep peace

Curfew was lifted from Jammu and Kashmir's Poonch town Friday evening and the army withdrawn after members of the two clashing communities, brought together by the administration, agreed to help restore peace, an official said.

A senior district administration official told IANS that prohibitory orders imposed in Poonch town were withdrawn Friday evening following restoration of peace in the town.

"The representatives of the two communities, some of whose members had clashed with one another, were brought together to discuss the issue and have assured to help restoration of normalcy in the town. Curfew imposed in the town has been lifted. The army has also been withdrawn from the town now. Life has started returning to normal," the official said.

Earlier Friday, Horticulture Minister Raman Bhalla flew in a helicopter along with Jammu Inspector General of Police Rajesh Kumar to take stock of the situation and help ease tensions.

Bhalla met members of the two communities and assured them the investigations into the alleged beating of a girl by a boy belonging to another community would be completed within a week.

Curfew was imposed on the town in the morning after youths belonging to two communities clashed following the incident.

Authorities sought the help of the army to restore order in the town earlier. The army carried out a flag march in Poonch town Friday.