Punjab, Haryana peaceful; train services restored

Chandigarh, May 27 (PTI) Peace is fast returning to
violence-hit northern Indian state of Punjab and neighbouring
Haryana with no untoward incident reported and curfew
relaxation passing off peacefully in four cities Wednesday.

Train services were restored in the state with many of
them passing through it Wednesday morning. However, long-route
buses were not plying as a precautionary measure but the
services were expected to be restored shortly.

The three-hour curfew relaxation in Jalandhar, which
was the worst hit by violence in the wake of the killing of a
sect leader in Vienna, passed off peacefully, officials said.

Curfew was also relaxed in Hoshiarpur, Phagwara and
Ludhiana, they said, adding no untoward incident was reported
from any part of the state.

Curfew remained in place in Malout town of Muktsar,
they said, maintaining that it was likely to be relaxed.

No untoward incident was reported from Haryana, which
also witnessed violent protests in Ambala, Yamunanagar and
certain other places.

Jalandhar Deputy Commissioner A S Pannu said curfew
would remain in force in the district for some more period as
a precautionary measure and commercial and educational
institutes would remain closed till further orders.

Security forces would continue to be deployed at
several sensitive points, he added. Army had been called out
following violence in Jalandhar, Phagwara and Hoshiarpur.

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. PTI