Curfew prevailed in parts of Uttar Pradesh's Moradabad city Wednesday after a communal clash involving Kanwariya pilgrims left 13 people injured, including two cops, police said.
Violence broke out in Dasarai locality late Tuesday following heated arguments between some Hindu Kanwariya (Lord Shiva devotees) pilgrims and local Muslims.
"On that day (Saturday) Kanwariyas wanted to take out their procession from an undeclared route, while members of the minority community were strictly against it. The Kanwariyas had then resorted to arson and vandalism. We believe Tuesday's communal clash is linked to that earlier incident only," said a police officer, who declined to be identified as he was not supposed to speak to the media.
Members from both communities Tuesday resorted to firing, stone-pelting and fought pitched battles with the police. A police outpost in Aslatpur area and several vehicles were also set on fire.
"A deputy superintendent of police and an inspector are among those injured. Five people, including the inspector, have received bullet injuries. The condition of all of them is stated to be out of danger," Superintendent of Police (City) Piyush Srivastava told IANS on telephone from Moradabad, some 250 km from here.
"Around four-five injured people have already been discharged from the hospital," he added.
Inspector General (Moradabad range) M.K. Bashal told IANS, "We have sought police force from various nearby districts. Besides police, Provincial Armed Constabulary and Rapid Action Force have been deployed in and around trouble-torn areas."
Moradabad's District Magistrate Sameer Verma told IANS, "Curfew has been clamped in areas under six police stations. Senior police and district administration officials are camping in violence-hit areas to ensure no untoward incident takes place."
The six police stations are: Katghar, Galshaheed, Majhola, Kotwali, Nagphani and Mughalpura.