Curfew clamped in Haryana town lifted

Authorities Wednesday lifted the curfew on Punhana town of Haryana clamped to stop any flare-up between two communities following the killing of a Meo youth, police said.

Mewat district authorities imposed the curfew Saturday in Punhana, 95 km from Gurgaon, as a precautionary measure after Wajid, 22, was found dead with a bullet injury Friday night.

Schools, banks and government offices were Wednesday allowed to work after four days of curfew but the markets of Punhana, home to 25,000 people, remained closed.

Later, a "panchyat" (community meeting) comprising people from Meo (Muslim) and Hindu communities was held at Punhana police station. Senior officials, including Deputy Commissioner R.C. Verma and Superintendent of Police A.K. Dhawan attended.