271 hurt in stone-pelting at MP fair

Chhindwara, MP, Aug 24 (UNI) As many as 271 people were injured in stone-pelting, five of them severely, in an attempt to secure a ceremonial flag today during the unique Gotmaar Mela in this district's Pandurna 'tahsil' headquarters, police said.

The grievously-injured have been rushed to Nagpur.

The fair, which began under a drizzle, did not witness many visitors until afternoon but their number began to gradually increase later.

Gotmaar is staged on the day after the Krishna Paksha 'amavasya' in the Hindu month of Bhadon. The stone-pelting, which starts from sunrise continues till dusk, is a tradition and believed to be atonement for the failure to unite couples in the hoary past.

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