india

Updated: Aug 05, 2014 07:57 IST

Tension gripped Chandpur Jogiyan village in Uttar Pradesh's Bareilly district on Monday night after members of two communities clashed over distribution of halwa in a temple, police said.

According to a police officer, a group of kanwariyas or devotees of Shiva assembled at the local Shiva temple for the jalasbhisek programme on the last Monday of Shravan.

After the programme was over villagers distributed halwa among the devotees.

Members of another community residing across the road opposed the distribution.

They objected to the new tradition saying the halwa distribution programme should be called off immediately.

There was heated exchange between members of the two communities. Soon large number of people gathered on the road and started pelting stones on the kanwariyas and the villagers.

The devotees assembled in the temple premises retaliated by brick batting on the opposite group.

Anti-social elements fired on the kanwariyas and a 12-year-old boy sustained injury.

Fearing that tension might spread to neighbouring villages, the district administration has deployed extra police force in the area.

The district administration and police officers are camping in the village.

Additional superintendent of police Hemant Kutiyal said policemen are patrolling in the area and situation is under control.