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Updated: Jul 27, 2014 10:35 IST

Communal violence left Uttar Pradesh bloodied again with three killed and several injured in a clash between Sikhs and Muslims in Saharanpur on Saturday. Curfew was clamped and shoot-at-sight orders given against rioters.

The two groups fought pitched battles and burnt several vehicles, as home minister Rajnath Singh spoke to chief minister Akhilesh Yadav who assured him that the situation would be contained soon.

The communities, who clashed over construction on a disputed plot, fought with firearms, swords and stones and torched shops and vehicles.

One of the deceased, Sanjeev Kochar, died of bullet injuries. The second victim was identified only as Arif while there was no confirmation of the third’s identity. A constable and a home guard sustained serious injuries as the police stepped in to control the rampage.

They are both in critical condition.

The situation continued to be tense till late Saturday, as heavy security was deployed by the state government, officials said.

Policemen carry away a protester during clashes between two communities in Saharanpur, Uttar Pradesh. (HT Photo)

Over a dozen policemen were also injured in the violence. Curfew continues in a few areas under six police stations.

Police have arrested over a dozen people for inciting violence over a land dispute and sources in the home department said the tense situation was now under control.

Read:UP govt announces aid of Rs. 10 lakh to kin of deceased

Eight companies of the Provincial Armed Constabulary (PAC), six of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) and two companies of Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) were deployed in the violence-hit areas.

Akhilesh Yadav has sought a detailed report on the clashes from the director general of police (DGP) AL Banerjee and chief secretary Alok Ranjan.

A team of home department and senior police officials also briefed the chief minister on the day's developments.

Punjab chief minister Parkash Singh Badal also spoke to Akhilesh Yadav and expressed concern over the incidents that unfolded in Saharanpur during the day.

The rampage reportedly continued for several hours. “They broke shutters, torched shops and vehicles and fearlessly roamed around the area for hours,” said Amanpreet Singh, a member of the Guru Singh Sabha. The sabha claims the plot belongs to the gurdwara near which it is located while the Muslims call it a holy spot for the community. The matter is in court.

Watch video: Two groups clash over land dispute in Saharanpur, curfew imposed

The fight allegedly began after the Sikhs started construction on the plot early Friday, and it turned ugly in no time, spreading to the old city areas.

The sabha officials claimed they had the court’s permission to do construction.

“We have the court order but whenever we approached the police for protection for the construction, they never paid heed to our request,” Amanpreet Singh said.

Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Congress leaders condemned the violence and slammed the state government for its failure to control the law and order situation in the state.

The BJP's state spokesman Vijay Bahadur Pathak said it was most unfortunate that while the state government did not miss any opportunity to blame his party for any communal tension, the government's failure to check small incidents was at the root of all troubles in the state.



Read: SGPC to visit UP, assess situation

Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi in a statement in New Delhi expressed his sadness at the communal clashes in Saharanpur.

"I am deeply saddened to hear of the clashes in Saharanpur," Gandhi said.

Tension also brewed in Kanth area of Moradabad district as the BJP refused to back out of its proposed protest against district officials for "victimising its cadre".

Heavy security was deployed and all entry points leading to the area were barricaded. Prohibitory orders under Section 144 (banning unlawful assembly) were clamped, officials said.

Around 500 Congress workers, including Dalit leader Madhusudan Mistry, state unit chief Nirmal Khatri and actress Nagma were detained on Saturday for violating prohibitory orders banning their entry into Kanth town of Moradabad. Police released them after about five hours.

The Congress leaders were detained at the UP Gate on the Delhi border in Ghaziabad, after intelligence sources said the presence of Congress members in Kanth could disturb communal harmony in the area which is still sensitive after recent violence following the removal of a sound system at a temple.

The situation in Kanth has been tense since early July when acting on the complaints of the local party legislator, police had pulled down loudspeakers from a village temple. It was alleged that police entered the temple with their shoes on. This led to violent protests from the villagers, most of whom are Dalits.

(With inputs from IANS)