Police fired ten round rounds in air to disperse two groups of people who attacked each other with stones and sticks over denial of worship to deities placed as part of Muharram in Krishtipadu village in Anantapur district on Wednesday. Six persons were injured in the clash and they were rushed to a hospital in Gooty town.
Clashes erupted between the people belonging to Scheduled Castes and the Backward Castes who were supporting a community in observing Muharram in the village on Tuesday. The latter allegedly prevented people belonging to Scheduled Castes community from paying obeisance at the deities and taking prasadam. Arguments led to scuffle and then into a clash but police brought the situation under control.
However, from around 7 am on Wednesday, those allegedly belonging to Backward Class threw stones on the houses of the Scheduled Castes and they retaliated. Window panes of several houses were broken. Another round of arguments led to a clash.
ADVERTISEMENT
Police used lathicharge to control them but when it failed, they fired in air. Situation continues to be tense and the police stationed a picket with 50 uniformed men.