Curfew relaxation in Handwara peaceful

Curfew was relaxed on Tuesday for four hours in trouble-torn Handwara town in north Kashmir to enable people to buy essential commodities of life, according to police.

"Curfew has been relaxed for four hours from 8 a.m. today in Handwara town. The curfew relaxation period has remained peaceful by and large," a senior police officer told IANS in Srinagar.

"A decision to continue the curfew relaxation will be taken after the present relaxation period ends," he added.

Curfew had to be quickly re-imposed in Handwara town on Monday morning after violence erupted again during a period of relaxation.

Tension had gripped Handwara town after alleged molestation of a school girl in the town by an army soldier last Tuesday.

Three people were killed in firing by security forces during violence that erupted in Handwara after news about the molestation spread there.

The girl has denied the molestation reports when she was presented before the Handwara chief judicial magistrate (CJM) in compliance with the directions of the state high court.

Police on Monday arrested in Handwara a youth named Hilal Ahmad Banday whom the girl, who was allegedly molested, identified.