Hyderabad: Normal life was affected in parts of the city as BJP (Bharatiya Janata Party) called for a bandh today (Dec 8, 2003) to protest communal violence that rocked old city areas on December 6 claiming five lives, even as the situation was returning to normal with no fresh incidents of violence reported from the affected areas.

Shops and business establishments in old city areas downed their shutters while the Government ordered closure of schools in eight police station limits.

The situation was totally peaceful in the areas under eight police station limits in old city where curfew was imposed yesterday (Dec 7), Additional Police Commissioner A K Khan told reporters.

Though there was no relaxation in the curfew, women were being allowed to come out from their houses to buy essential commodities like vegetables and milk this morning, he said.

Vegetable and milk vendors were being escorted in vulnerable areas so that women could come out from their houses to buy the essential commodities, Khan said.

The police would review the situation and take a decision on relaxing the curfew in the evening, the police official said.

Security has been beefed up in sensitive areas to prevent any untoward incidents.

PTI