Curfew relaxed in Lucknow

By Our Special Correspondent

LUCKNOW, SEPT. 29. With the situation remaining peaceful over the past two days, the authorities today relaxed curfew restrictions in four police station areas of old Lucknow for three hours. Curfew was reimposed at 1 p.m. as a precautionary measure and restrictions might further be relaxed on Sunday, an official spokesman said.

One more injured person, meanwhile, died today in hospital raising the number of deaths in police firing on Thursday to five. Old Lucknow areas had been brought under curfew following violent protests against the arrest of activists of the Students' Islamic Movement of India.

The State police have so far arrested 87 SIMI activists. About 10 activists are reported to have gone underground to evade arrest. In Lucknow, the authorities have been watching the situation cautiously.

The State Secretary of the CPI (ML), Mr. Akhilendra Pratap Singh has criticised the Central Government for banning SIMI. The two main reasons for banning SIMI were ``the BJP leaders' efforts to please the American imperialists and to legitimise their own communal politics'', he charged.

Talking to newspersons here, Mr. Singh said his party did not agree with SIMI's ``illogical perspective'' but at the same time it also did not support the suppression of people's democratic rights.

The CPI (ML) leader alleged that the U.P. Government was targeting its political opponents, including communist activists and members of Dalit and minority communities.``The Rajnath Singh Government is totally against the politics of tolerance and wants to annihilate dissenting voices,'' he said.

Decison on ban to be presented before tribunal'

MUMBAI, SEPT. 29. The Union Communication and IT Minister, Mr. Pramod Mahajan, today said the Government would present its case regarding the ban on the SIMI before a tribunal, to be set up under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act.

The Government had taken action (ban on SIMI) based on specific information and reports about links with terrorist organisations, he told reporters after receiving the dividend cheque from the Videsh Sanchar Nigam Limited here.

Under the act, a tribunal headed by a judge, is required to be set up, where the Government would have to present its case, the Minister said.

Asked about imposing ban on similar communal organisations, including the Bajrang Dal, Mr. Mahajan said the Government would take decisions after studying each case.

- PTI

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