Curfew in Hyderabad to be relaxed for 14 hrs on Saturday

Police on Friday arrested seven more persons in connection with the last Sunday's communal clashes in Madannapet and Saidabad areas of the old city, even as authorities announced a 14-hour relaxation of curfew on Saturday.

The SIT of Hyderabad Police, which had arrested 16 persons so far, today nabbed seven more, on the charge of stone-pelting and damaging the state transport buses and private property, Deputy Commissioner of Police (Detective Department) J Sathyanarayana said.

Police have registered 26 cases in connection with the violent incidents of Sunday, which were sparked off by alleged desecration of a religious place.

With the situation in Madannapet and Saidabad remaining peaceful, police today decided to relax the curfew in these areas further for 14 hours, from 6 am to 8 pm.

However, with the communal tension still continuing in various parts of South, East and West Zones, In-charge Police Commissioner Anurag Sharma has also issued prohibitory orders under section 144 of CrPC, barring assembly of five or more persons.

Procession, dharna, rally or public meeting, display of pictures, symbols, placards, flags, etc, which are likely to create religious animosity or cause disturbance have been prohibited.