Malegaon:/Mumbai: Three people had been killed and more
than 150 including 48 policemen were injured in Dhule - the North
Maharashtra city some 350 kms from Mumbai, after clashes broke out
between members of two communities on Sunday afternoon, police
said late in the evening. The situation is tense but under
control.
The dead have been identified as
Imran Ali (20), Asim Shaikh (25) and Saood Ahmed (23).
The exact cause of the death have
not been yet disclosed. It is however suspected that the deaths
are due to firing.
The violence started at a hotel over a trivial matter
and spread to Machli Market and Madhavpura areas of the city, news
agency PTI reported quoting official sources.
Eyewitnesses account said that
police first used tear gas shells to disrupt the mob but later had
to open fire to
control the unruly mobs. Cases of arson and stone pelting are also
reported from the area.
"We received 4-5 people who were
injured in the firing. One injured was critical. Since we
could not handle them, we shifted them to other hospitals", a Sarvojanik Hospital staff told ummid.com on phone.
A local reporter while speaking to
ummid.com on phone said that he saw people who were injured in the firing
in the hospital.
"Condition of some of the injured
are very critical. Some of them were injured in legs. But some
received bullet injuries near abdomen", he added.
Dhule is normally considered as a
peaceful city. However, in 2008 the city witnessed communal riots
which is regarded as worst in its history.
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