In a massive relief to Nagpurians, the city police relaxed curfew throughout the city post normalisation of the situation, on Sunday. Commissioner of Police Dr Ravinder Kumar Singal promulgated the order for lifting of curfew that continued under the jurisdiction of Yashodhara Nagar, Kotwali, Tehsil and Ganeshpeth police stations. The restrictions on public gathering stand withdrawn from 3 pm of Sunday giving relief to the citizens who were at their wit’s end owing to long confinement. However, being Sunday, most of the wholesale markets and shops remained closed. Hence, relaxation of curfew failed to enthuse the markets which witnessed mild rush.

 

 

From Monday onwards, the markets are likely to witness normal rush, the traders expect. Earlier on Saturday, police had provided partial relief to the citizens by lifting the curfew for three hours under the jurisdictions of Kotwali, Ganeshpeth and Tehsil police stations. But curfew under Yashodhara Nagar Police Station precincts remained as it is. Cops were a bit cautious as a person from the locality had succumbed to injuries sustained in the riots on March 17 night. Arson and stone-pelting erupted all of a sudden on evening of March 17 after a section of society took the law into their hands. The immediate trigger was rumours about desecration of Quran verses during the protest staged by Bajrang Dal activists under the jurisdiction of Kotwali Police Station.

 

 

Taken aback by the strong reaction, the cops tried to tone down the crowd but the situation spiralled out of hand. Left with no option, the Commissioner of Police issued order under Sections 163 (1) (2) (3) of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita 2023 imposing curfew under jurisdiction of 11 police stations in Nagpur city. The restriction ahead of the two major festivals, Ramzan Eid and Gudhi Padwa put paid to hopes of big turnover in the city market. Traditionally after ‘Dusshera-Diwali’, the city markets witness maximum sales and buoyancy during Eid and Gudhi Padwa festivities. Particularly prior and post Gudhi Padwa celebrations, the markets witness maximum trade as summer starts. The arson wiped out almost one week of market time during the crucial period leaving the traders in a soup. On Saturday, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis took stock of the ground situation.

 

 

He was briefed about the prevailing situation, intelligence inputs, and their analysis by the police brass and district administration. So post the high-level security review, the cops went in for relaxing curfew to restore normally in the city. The citizens in Mahal and surrounding areas were complaining of feeling victimised as they feel in name of strictness they are being confined to their homes and this has result in sort of their harassment. Compared to Covid-19 when at least essential commodities were available, due to curfew, the traders in the entire area, including wholesale market, were unable to operate. The workers were loosing out on their wages as they could not reach the shop due to police restriction. Meanwhile, the Commission of Police along with fellow officers travelled to Mahal area after signing the order of relaxing the curfew. He mingled with traders and had talks with them about the situation. The top cop also took stock of the ground situation and moved around in the hot spot that witnessed arson. Now that police feels that the frayed tempers of citizens have cooled down, the situation is ripe for loosening the tight grip its has effected in the city that would allow people to feel at ease.