Curfew was imposed in parts of Kannauj city in Uttar Pradesh on Friday after a youth died of injuries sustained in a communal clash during a Durga Puja idol immersion procession the previous day.

Tensions continued in the Lakhan Tiraha area of the city. Superintendent of Police Kalanidhi Naithani said the situation was “tense but under control”.

“Prohibitory orders were in place after a clash in the Lakhan Tiraha area when some people allegedly opened fire and threw stones at a procession for the immersion of the Durga puja idols,” the police officer told the media.

One of the two youths injured in the violence died last night.

Appeal for peace

“We are taking special care in appealing to the two communities for peace and taking their elders into confidence about peace-building measures. The police are patrolling the area. We handed over the body to the family after post-mortem. The last rites were performed this morning,” Mr. Naithani said.

It all started when some people opened fire at the Durga idol procession when it was passing through the Lakhan Tiraha area.

It was retaliated with firing from another side and within no time the violence spread to other parts of the city. Police and public vehicles were set on fire. Some people tried to burn shops.

Inspector-General of Police Ashutosh Pandey rushed to the spot with a heavy force. “The situation has been brought under control. It is slightly tense but under control. Sufficient police force has been deployed in the conflict-prone areas of the city,” Mr. Pandey said.

He sustained injuries in a clash during the Durga Puja idol immersion procession