UP: Sectarian clash in old city; curfew continues

Lucknow, Apr 2: The Situation in the riot-hit old city of the state capital was fast returning to normal even as curfew continued for the second day today in two police station areas after yesterday's sectarian clash on Barawafat procession.

One person Bablu painter, who recieved a bullet injury, died in hospital late last night whereas 13 injured were admitted to hospital after the clash.

Police sources here today said 27 people have been arrested so far in connection with rioting.

Curfew was imposed in two police station Chowk and Thakurganj areas of the state capital following clash between two groups on the occasion of Barawafat.

Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Jyoti Narain told UNI here that the situation was fast returning to normal.

The trouble, which started in Musahibganj in the old city area, caused tension to grip sensitive parts of the old city prompting authorities to impose curfew first in Thakurganj police station area and later to Chowk kotwali area as a precautionary measure.

The Rapid Action Force (RAF) and the additional police force was deployed to contain the sitaution.

The trouble had started during the Barawafat procession when one section of a community pelted stone. It resulted into a clash between two groups in which several people received injuries.

Later, Milad-un-Nabi procession passed off under the heavy security and the administration was trying hard to check spread of rumours in the state capital.

Clerics and community leaders have also come forward to calm the tempers which were running high after the clash between two groups while the district administration has also appealed for restraint and to support on the occasion of Barawafat.

UNI