NEW DELHI: A fight between two youths over dog poop snowballed into a major clash in south Delhi's Humayunpur village, with 30-40 men going on the rampage in the neighbourhood and firing about a dozen rounds, in which a mentally challenged man suffered injuries. Police had to issue prohibitory orders in the area.

It all began at 8.30pm at the central park of the village on Sunday, where one of the youths, Sahil, was taking his pet Spitz for a stroll. According to his brother Sunny, Sahil was abused by another youth, Rohit Chaddha , for allowing his dog to defecate near gym equipment kept in the park.

Sahil called his friends and they allegedly beat up Rohit. Police soon resolved the matter but violence flared up again at 10.30pm, when Rohit allegedly summoned a gang of criminals. Dozens of masked men ran into the village with hockey sticks, pistols and iron rods, looking for Sahil's family.

Police said the gang barged into Sahil's house and fired indiscriminately. "Fortunately, my wife had shut the iron gates and locked the children in their room. Bullets were fired into their room as well," said Manoj, Sahil's cousin.

He said when the gangsters could not find Sahil or his brother, they went outside and damaged two cars parked in front of the house.

In a CCTV footage recovered from one of the buildings in the colony, armed men are seen chasing someone whom they had probably mistaken for one of Rohit's attackers, Monty. They fire several rounds in air and also beat up a youth.

Rajesh, a mentally disabled local youth standing at the doorstep on his house, was injured as a bullet grazed past his chest. Rajesh's family said he came running into the house saying people were shooting outside, and collapsed.

Police said the men fled as soon as cops arrived. Two of the criminals, Prashant and Ravinder, were nabbed from the spot. They claimed Rohit was their friend and they had come to protect him. Locals say Rohit's parents had passed away long back and he stayed with his aunt at a slum in the area. Sahil's family has been staying in Humayunpur for many decades.

DCP Prem Nath said a case of rioting and attempt to murder has been registered at the Safdurjung Enclave police station.