2 killed in violence in MP

Bhopal, July 3 (UNI) At least two persons were killed in group clashes and curfew clamped in four police station areas of Indore while normal life went out of gear in Madhya Pradesh today during the Vishwa Hindu Parishad-sponsored 'Bharat bandh' on the Amarnath issue.

In a related issue, a cloth merchant Hiralal Soni(28) immolated himself in Rampur town of Satna district after the bandh supporters had beaten up him severely following an altercation over the shop's closure. The trader, who was initially admitted to the district hospital with 90 percent burns, was later shifted to a private hospital.

At Indore, group clashes between pro and anti-bandh supporters were reported at many places, leading to imposition of curfew in Chhatripura, Pandrinath, Khajarana and Malharganj police station areas. Two persons were killed and about a dozen people were injured, police said, adding arson was also reported. Few people were arrested.

In state capital Bhopal, shops and main markets remained closed.

Skeleton city bus services were maintained in the morning.

Government and corporate offices functioned as usual though educational institutions were kept closed.

Bus services were affected at many places, while train services remained normal, barring few instances where the bandh supporters briefly stopped the train in token protest.

Impact of the BJP-supported bandh was also felt in Gwalior, Bhind, Morena, Ujjain, Badwani, Sagar, Jhabua, Mhow and other towns.

Minor clashes between bandh supporters and those against it were reported at many places.

UNI Team-SP 1530