A TV grab of two securtiy personnel standing guard in Dhubri on Friday. Telegraph picture

Dhubri, Oct. 26: Amid sporadic incidents of group clashes since last night, curfew was relaxed from 9am to 4pm in Dhubri town today.

The situation remains tense in some areas of the town and no shops, barring a few grocery stores in the town, opened during the period of curfew relaxation today.

Though preparations have been made by the three mosque committees of Dhubri town to offer mass prayers amid tight security tomorrow, curfew on Id-uz-zoha eve marred the spirit of celebrations.

A senior officer in Dhubri said an additional four companies of Assam battalion have arrived in Dhubri to boost the security cover and maintain law and order in the town.

During a peace committee meeting held in the DC’s conference hall, chaired by additional deputy commissioner N.F. Hussain, members of the committee alleged failure of the district administration in maintaining law and order in the town despite repeated pleas for patrolling in sensitive areas of Dhubri town.

When contacted, president of Dhubri district Congress committee, Arabinda Kumar Saha, expressed deep resentment over the administration’s failure in bringing the situation under control.

“There are a few places like New Market-Nuliapatty-Bidyapara, Subhash Nagar- Newghat, Ghose Para-Nalichata (IG Road area), Koraipatty and Bou Bazar-Bidyapara of Dhubri town — that have witnessed a number of incidents. But because of the administration’s failure to rein in the volatile situation, the areas are still burning,” Saha said.

President of Dhubri district unit of the BJP, Bimal Oswal, said the district administration responded very late on Dashami (day of immersion of idols), as community puja organisers demanded the arrest of the culprits first.

“Had the district administration quickly responded and convened a meeting and heard their grievances, the matter could have been sorted out and immersion could be done on that very day. But the administration allowed the situation to worsen and instead of taking any positive step clamped curfew in the evening of Dashami,” Oswal said.

He also alleged that no action was taken against the boatmen who refused to turn up at Gauripur ghat to ferry the idols on the day. “Was it not administrative lapse that boatmen defied orders of Gauripur police?” Oswal asked.

On the other hand, AIUDF legislator of Dhubri, Jahan Uddin, said after the deployment of Rapid Action Force (RAF) last month, law and order situation had improved and people were at ease following the restoration of normalcy in the town.

“We demanded that the district administration deploy the RAF till the festive season was over but all of a sudden it was withdrawn. Was it not a lack of foresight on the part of district administration?” Jahan Uddin asked.

Dhubri additional superintendent of police Prasanta Dutta said the situation remained tense but with the arrival of four additional companies of Assam battalion, security in vulnerable areas of the town has been beefed up.

“In view of Id tomorrow, extra forces have been deployed at the three places where namaz (mass prayers) will be held, including one at Dhubri Idgah Maidan in Dhubri town,” Dutta said.

Deputy director-general of police (law and order) A.P. Rawat arrived in Dhubri this evening to take stock of the law and order situation.