Gorakhpur (Uttar Pradesh), Feb.2 (ANI): Curfew was relaxed for two hours in three of the four areas of Gorakhpur, Uttar Pradesh, on Friday.

Though no untoward incident was reported, the local administration invoked the National Secuity Act against four persons who were arrested in connection with the killing of two persons during the recent violence.

The local police said that curfew was relaxed in phases in Kotwali, Rajghat and Tewaripur police circles during which people bought essential commodities.Curfew, however, was not relaxed in the Gorakhnath police circle.

Official sources said that curfew could be relaxed further if the situation improved.

Meanwhile, security has been tightened on all mail and express trains passing to and from Gorakhpur and adjoining districts in view of torching of some trains in the past few days.

In neighbouring Mau, nine persons have been arrested in connection with the torching of the Godan Express train at the Mohammdabad Railway Station on Thursday night.

Passenger trains remained cancelled in several districts of eastern Uttar Pradesh on Friday. Bus services were started at some places, but were manned with security escorts to ensure a trouble-free ride.

A jeep of the sales tax department at Basti was, however, torched this morning, reports said. Three persons had been taken into custody in this connection.

Meanwhile, an application has been filed before the Gorakhpur District Court, seeking the release of BJP MP Yogi Adityanath and other leaders. The applicant has pleaded that the arrests had been made in violation of the laws.

District Judge Amar Sinha has summonned the relevant documents and posted the matter for hearing on Saturday. (ANI)