Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, Congress President Sonia Gandhi and party Vice President Rahul Gandhi arrived in Muzaffarnagar on a day-long visit to violence affceted areas of Uttar Pradesh. Accompanied by Minister of State for Home RPN Singh and Governor BL Joshi, they will make an on-the-spot assessment of the situation in the wake of communal violence that rocked some areas of the district. District Magistrate of Muzaffarnagar KR Sharma said that the leaders are expected to visit the relief camps where riot hit people are taking shelter. They will also visit hospitals where the injured are admitted.

The Prime Minister condemned the violence and expressed deep anguish for the loss of life. He has also sanctioned 2 lakh rupees each for the next of kin of those killed and 50 thousand each for the seriously injured from the Prime Minister's Relief Fund.

The State Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav visited the violence affected areas yesterday. Addressing a press conference, the Chief Minister said that one family member of those killed would be given a government job. He assured the people that strict action will be taken against those responsible for the disturbances. The Chief Minister has already sanctioned 10 lakh rupees of relief for the families of those killed.

Meanwhile, the situation in the affected areas of the state is limping back to normal. No incident of violence was reported yesterday when day curfew was relaxed. The curfew relaxation in the city areas of violence continues for the seventh day today.

IG Law and Order RK Vishwakarma told our Lucknow correspondent that 188 persons have been arrested in connection with the 66 cases filed. 11,000 preventive arrests have also been made.

Schools reopened today for the first time after they were closed on September 7.

The monsoon session of the State Legislature is also beginning today. The Speaker of the Assembly Mata Prasad Pandey has sought cooperation of the opposition parties for the smooth running of the House. The session is likely to be a stormy with opposition parties all set to corner the state government on the Muzaffarnagar violence.

The state BJP president Laxmi Kant Bajpai told reporters in Lucknow that they will raise the issue of Muzaffarnagar clashes in the Assembly. Leaders of other opposition parties also said they would vociferously raise the issue in both the Houses.