Sunday, February 12 2006 12:59 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Srinagar: The situation was under control in the two districts of Ladhakh, which witnessed widespread violence following reports of alleged desecration of Quran in a mosque, with curfew being lifted for a few hours in Leh even as it continued in Kargil, official sources said here today (Feb 12,2006).

Curfew in Leh and its peripheral areas, which was imposed on Thursday, was relaxed for two hours from 11 AM to 1 PM, Chairman of Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council (LAHDC) Dorji told sources.

With the situation returning to normal and no untoward incident reported from any part of the district, the local administration has decided to relax curfew in main Leh town from two hours from 1 PM to 3 PM and in upper areas of the district from 3 PM to 5 PM.

However, curfew continued without relaxtion in Kargil district, Senior Superintendent of Police Kargil Danish Rana said.

The local administration will meet later in the day to decide about relaxation in the curfew imposed in the district on February 10 after an irate mob set ablaze the residence of a Deputy Superintendent of Police and made an abortive bid to torch the district police lines, he said.

Rana said the situation was well under control and no untoward incident was reported from any part of the district.

Violence erupted in the Ladakh region early this week following allegations of desecration of the Quran in Bodh Kharboo area of Kargil district on Monday.

Buddhists and Muslims clashed at several places in both Leh and Kargil towns forcing the authorities to seek help of army, ITBP and CRPF in maintaining law and order.