The curfew imposed in Lalitpur city area from 4am to 10 pm for Friday has been lifted but there are restrictions on the number of people near the Machhindranath chariot.

A meeting held among the district security committee, Guthi Sansthan and other stakeholders to analyse Friday’s security status in the district decided to lift the curfew which had been imposed within the Ring Road of the district.

“But we have banned the gathering of more than five people near the Pulchowk area,” said chief district officer Narayan Prasad Bhatta. “Our aim is not to let anyone be near the place where Machindranath chariot has been kept.”

Priests conducted the Kshama Puja in front of the Rato Machindranath chariot on Friday following a decision of stakeholders on Thursday evening.

After locals forcefully attempted to pull the chariot despite the prohibitory orders being in place, police on Thursday had fired tear gas and water cannons to disperse the crowd.

After the situation turned out to be more violent, some raged locals brutally beat up a traffic policeman,and several people including policemen were injured in clashes.

According to CDO Bhatta nine people involved in Thursday's brutal attack on a traffic police have been kept in custody and they are under further investigation.

Because of the administration’s late announcement of the curfew on Thursday night, many citizens were unaware of its decision. Many shops remained closed throughout the day with complete halt in public movement on Friday.

The situation in the district remained peaceful throughout Friday, according to the district administration office.