Normality has almost returned to Lohardaga, where curfew was clamped after a pro-citizenship matrix procession was attacked on January 23.

Curfew was relaxed in the district, known for its production of bauxite and around 60km from the state capital, for seven hours on Friday.

A resident of the district headquarters said curfew was lifted from 8.30am to noon and again from 2pm to 5.30pm and no untoward incident was reported during the curfew-relaxation period.

“During two spells of relaxation there is no report of any untoward incident. People were seen going about their business normally and purchasing items of day-to-day use,” said the resident, who requested anonymity.

Inspector-general of police (IG, human rights) Naveen Kumar Singh, who has been camping in the district since January 24, said the situation was returning to normality.

“Observing today’s peace we have planned to increase the relaxation period so that schools can also run properly. The final decision in this matter will be taken by the deputy commissioner by late tonight (Friday night),” Singh said.

Asked how many people been arrested so far over the flare-up, Singh said: “As many as 34 have been arrested. Most of them are local unemployed youths.”

Another resident of Lohardaga town, who also requested anonymity, said the common people were still not confident about moving across the town.

“People in the city are still seen through the prism of their communal identity though several social workers are busy building confidence among people and are trying to reweave the damaged social fabric. People in some of the localities still having sleepless nights though security personnel have been deputed at strategic locations,” the resident said.

Lohardaga residents and some groups have claimed that one person was killed in the clashes, but the administration has said that the person who died in hospital in Ranchi had died of natural causes and not flare-up related injuries.