GILGIT, Aug 26: After a day of sectarian violence, Gilgit was tense but calm city on Thursday and all major shopping and business centres remained shut. Roads gave a deserted look and attendance in government offices and schools was thin.

Police arrested 11 suspects in connection with the torching of six houses by a mob near Yadgar chowk on Wednesday. Two policemen have been taken into custody in connection with the murder three days ago of a man who was a 'Hafiz-i-Quran'.

Paramilitary troops patrolled sensitive areas and police and scouts searched vehicles.

Sources said police teams had been formed to look for people involved in violence.

Law-enforcement personnel launched a search operation on Wednesday night, but no-one was captured and no weapon was found.

Chief Minister Syed Mehdi Shah presided over a high-level meeting which directed law-enforcement agencies to deal sternly with law-breakers.

The chief minister and Force Commander of Gilgit-Baltistan Maj-Gen Qamar Javed Bajwa visited the affected areas. The chief minister assured the affected families that their losses would be compensated and the perpetrators would be brought to book.