Kanwarias clash with locals in Varanasi; 8 hurt

Varanasi, Aug 9 (UNI) A group of Kanwarias on way to Deoghar in Jharkhand, today clashed with shop keepers mostly from minority community in the Jalalipur area of the temple city following a minor road accident, leaving eight people injured.

Since the area is communally hyper sensitive, police and para military forces were deployed in large number to control the situation.

A group of 20 kanwarias from the city had left for Deoghar in Jharkhand after offering prayers at Shailputri temple here. When the group reached Jalalipur area, a minor road accident involving a scooter led to a heated exchange between the kanwarias and locals, mostly from the minority community.

The situation soon turned ugly as both sides pelted stones at each other. While kanwarias claimed that the locals snatched their valuables, including chains, the shop keepers charged them with looting shops.

''The injured are being provided medical aid,'' District Police Chief of Varanasi S B Shirodkar said. At least two of the kanwarias injured have been identified as Ballu (22) and Kaji Sonker (23).

Police, PAC and Rapid Action Force (RAF) personnel have been deployed in large numbers to prevent any untoward incident.

Police were trying to convince the kanwarias to change their route following the clash.

Meanwhile, the state Director General of Police(DGP) Vikram Singh had already issued directions to all the district police chiefs to ensure smooth passage of kanwarias all over the state. Earlier also, some unpleasant incidents had taken place involving kanwarias.

UNI