Karnataka govt withdraws night curfew order a day after announcing it

However, just hours before the curfew order was to come into effect, the government withdrew the order "after getting feedback from the public".

Even the police had also released the Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for the curfew period.

This is the second U-turn by the Karanataka government in three days.

Earlier on Tuesday, Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa first said "there is no need" and on Wednesday he said the curfew would be imposed "in view of the new strain".

Later on Wednesday, an official order indicated different timings from those he mentioned and on Thursday the curfew was finally withdrawn.

"The night curfew had been announced to curtail the spread of the new coronavirus strain after getting advice from experts. After getting feedback from the public, the issue was re-examined, and in consultation with cabinet colleagues and senior officials, the decision has been withdrawn," a statement from the Chief Minister's office said on Thursday.

"The public should undertake self-regulation, use masks, social distance, avoid unnecessary travel and follow government guidelines on the control of COIVD-19," the statement added.

Karnataka, which followed Maharashtra in announcing a curfew, had said non-essential movement would be restricted from 11 pm to 5 am (the Chief Minister earlier said 10 pm and 6 am) till Jan 2.

According to reports, the curfew ordered over fears of the spread of the new more infectious mutant variant of the coronavirus was not received well by shopkeepers, traders and businessmen in Karnataka, especially during the Christmas holidays.

The new strain of the virus has sparked fresh concern worldwide as cases of the new coronavirus mutation have been also found in countries like Denmark, Italy, Gibraltar, the Netherlands and Australia besides the UK where it was first detected in September.