Curfew in MP town; many hurt

Burhanpur, MP, Oct 10 (UNI) Indefinite curfew was clamped this afternoon in this district town of western Madhya Pradesh following communal tension, arson and stone-pelting while tension also prevailed in the district's Foofnar village.

More than a dozen persons were injured in stone-pelting and a lathicharge. Two houses were torched by miscreants in the satellite town Lalbagh even while curfew was in force.

''Police fired in the air to bring the situation under control,'' said Inspector-General of Police (Indore Range) Anil Kumar.

In Gandhi Chowk area, at least eight shops were set ablaze by a mob. ''Curfew was imposed as firing in the air and lobbing of tear gas canisters failed to control violence,'' Superintendent of Police M K Katakwar said.

Tension was generated here last night leading to imposition of prohibitory orders under Section 144 of the Criminal Procedure Code as members of a certain community pelted stones at a religious procession.

Traders in Gandhi Chowk area kept their shops closed today as a mark of protest. People coming out of a place of worship resorted to violence this afternoon, Mr Katakwar said.

UNI Team-AC 1728