Curfew lifted from Gorakhpur

Curfew has been fully lifted from Gorakhpur in Uttar Pradesh following an improvement in situation, officials said on Thursday.

After reviewing the situation in the area last night, the district administration decided to lift the night curfew, which had been continuing in the area as a precautionary measure, city Additional District Magistrate P K Agarwal said.

Life returned to normal in the town with train services resuming and markets buzzing with activity.

Communal clashes had led to the imposition of curfew in Rajghat, Kotwali and Tiwaripur police circles on January 27, which was extended to Gorakhpur two days later.

The curfew lasted for 19 days during which two persons lost their lives and over a dozen injured. More than a thousand people were rounded up in Gorakhpur and neighbouring Basti divisions in connection with breaching of peace and rioting.