Sectarian violence continues in Lucknow old city

A motorcycle was set on fire by rioters during sectarian clashes in old city of Lucknow on Friday. Photo: Arunangsu Roy Chowdhury

Violence continued unabated in several parts of the old city here for the third day on Friday, with several people injured in clashes between Shias and Sunnis.

Members of the two sects clashed near the Husainabad Clock Tower and Satkhanda in the Husainabad area after the Alvida (last Friday of the Islamic holy month of Ramzan) prayers.

Bombs hurled

Eyewitness accounts said the two groups threw bricks at each other. Several rounds were reportedly fired and crude bombs hurled. Clashes were also reported from Raniganj, Iqbal Nagar, Muftiganj, Dargah Hazrat Abbas and Top Darwaza.

The police, meanwhile, were accused of being a mute witness to the violence despite their huge presence. Three companies of the Rapid Action Force and 15 companies of the Provincial Armed Constabulary have been deployed in the old city since Wednesday, when clashes first broke out.

Procession attacked

On that day, bricks were hurled at a procession taken out by Shias, allegedly by Sunnis, at the Bazar Khala and Haiderganj crossing. In the ensuing rioting, several shops were torched and vehicles damaged. No arrests have been made yet.