Curfew was eased during day time in the riot-hit areas of Muzaffarnagar for fifth consecutive day on Saturday while 542 people have been arrested so far in connection with communal violence in the district and surrounding areas that claimed 47 lives.

Curfew imposed in Kotwali, Civil Lines and Nai Mandi areas of the district on September 7 following communal violence was relaxed from 7 a.m. this morning till 7 p.m., officials said.

Since the outbreak of the riot, 62 cases of rioting have been registered in different police stations and 542 persons have been arrested, Additional SP Alok Piryadarshi told media on Saturday.

About 1,800 arm licences had been cancelled in the riot-affected areas.

Meanwhile, two youths were on Saturday arrested for sending inflammatory text messages in Sikhera village in the district.

In another case, police on Saturday arrested four persons, including a son of Khap council head, for rioting in Bahawdi village in Fugana following complaints by some riot victims, who have taken shelter in a relief camp at Kaira in the district.