Life returns to normal in Indian state Punjab

Chandigarh, May 30 (PTI) Normalcy prevailed in India's
northern state of Punjab Saturday as authorities continued to
give day-time relaxation in curfew in areas which had
witnessed tension in the wake of the killing of a sect leader
in Vienna.

In Jalandhar and Phagwara, authorities announced
relaxation in curfew from 6 am to 10 pm IST. While curfew was
relaxed from 6 am to 8 pm in Ludhiana, it was relaxed from 6
am to 7 pm in Malout town in Muktsar. Day curfew was also
lifted in Hoshiarpur, officials said.

However, night curfew would continue to remain in
force at all the five places as a precautionary measure.

In Muktsar, Additional Deputy Commissioner Gurpreet
Singh Gill reviewed the situation. He also convened a meeting
of the 21-member peace committee comprising members of various
religious and political groups.

Curfew was imposed in Jalandhar, Phagwara, Hoshiarpur,
Ludhiana and Malout after violence sparked off by the killing
of the sect leader Rama Nand in Vienna.

While schools were closed on account of summer
holidays, all commercial establishments, including banks were
open and rail and road traffic was running smoothly.

The situation in neighbouring Haryana, which witnessed
violence in Ambala, Jagadhri and Nariangarh was also peaceful.

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