Shoot-at-sight orders in MP town; denizens short of water

Rajgarh, MP, Feb 1 (UNI) Denizens of this district's Bioara town -- where curfew was clamped yesterday in view of communal tension and shoot-at-sight orders have been issued -- faced a shortage of basic facilities such as supply of water and milk today.

Sixty persons were detained for indulging in arson and other damage to property. Some of them were later freed.

''The situation is under control. The security personnel have not had to open fire yet,'' Inspector-General (Bhopal Range) Sanjeev Kumar Singh said.

An attempt was made last night to torch a few hutments. Last evening, a special task force, Rapid Action Force platoons and police personnel were rushed to Bioara from Bhopal and other places.

Curfew was imposed after the police fired in the air and lobbed teargas shells to disperse members of two communities who confronted one another, pelted stones and indulged in arson after the tearing of posters, at Pipal crossing, regarding a certain community's programme.

Two vehicles were torched and more than half-a-dozen shops damaged yesterday.

UNI