Curfew in riot-hit Dhule was relaxed for a longer period today and schools as well as educational institutes opened a week after violence broke out in this North Maharashtra town over tearing of a banner.
Curfew has been relaxed from 0800 hours to 1700 hours this evening following no fresh incidents of violence and improvement in the situation, Dhule police control told PTI.
The death toll in the violence has risen to 10 with one more succumbing to his injuries yesterday, the police said.
The riots on October 5 had claimed 9 lives and left over 170 injured, they said adding more than 350 persons have been arrested in this connection so far.
Also, 'panchnamas' with regard to property losses estimated to around Rs 20-crore are being prepared by the revenue department officials, Dhule Collector Prajakta Lavan gare said adding the process of providing compensation will also be initiated soon.
Distribution of financial aid to riot-affected victims is also in progress, she said adding a rehabilitation scheme is being drafted by the PWD for repair of damaged houses in the violence.
Meanwhile, senior BJP leader Gopinath Munde has demanded a judicial probe into the Dhule riots. Munde visited the riot-hit town yesterday along with the MLA of Jalgaon district.
Republican Party of India chief and MP Ramdas Athawale also reached Dhule this morning and visited the riot-affected areas after trouble began there when a banner of Hindu Rakshak Samiti was found torn in Ram Mandir Chowk leading to clashes and arson in many areas.
