Hundreds of shops burnt: Both the communities have suffered damage in incidents of arson.
SRINAGAR: At least two persons have been killed and dozens wounded in clashes between Hindus and Muslims in Kishtwar town of Jammu and Kashmir on Friday.
The Deputy Inspector General of Police, Ashkoor Wani said “two persons have died and another twenty-three have been injured.”
He gave no more details.
However a government statement issued late in the evening has mentioned only one death and four injuries.
An indefinite curfew has been imposed in the area and army called out to restore law and order. The curfew continued Saturday. Troops have staged a flag march.
The clashes broke out after a group of Hindus allegedly attacked an Eid congregation of Muslims in Chogan Ground Eidgah in the morning.
The rioters have reportedly torched a large number of houses, vehicles and shops.
One of the deceased has been identified as Arvind Kumar while the other is Bashir Ahmed. Kumar is reported to have died of bullet injuries while Ahmed was burnt to death.
Both Hindus and Muslims have suffered damage in incidents of arson.
A local Muslim resident, who said he was present at the scene, told FreePress over phone that Muslims in their hundreds had gathered at Chogan Ground when a group of Hindus attacked them with stones.
“While we were in the middle of prayer they set fire to many cars parked outside,” he said. “They also set fire to some shops, a petrol pump and oil tankers.”
He said the Muslims later retaliated and set fire to houses and a large number of shops belonging to Hindus.
Kishtwar has an almost equal Hindu-Muslim population.
