Violence erupts in Faizabad

Two Uttar Pradesh State Roadways buses were damaged as members of two communities clashed over a religious site in Faizabad town on Tuesday, police said.

A contingent of paramilitary rapid action force has been deployed in the town.

The clash follows similar communal tension in the state’s Bareilly city on Sunday. Police said violence broke out at Mirzapur in Faizabad, 120 km from Lucknow, after a brief altercation between members of two communities.

They then indulged in heavy stone-pelting and went on rampage, damaging two buses of the Uttar Pradesh State Roadways. They also raised slogans against the district administration and the state government.

District officials admitted that for the last one week discontent had been simmering following a dispute over the religious place.

Senior superintendent of police Ramit Sharma said the situation was under control and a platoon of the RAF has been deployed as a precautionary measure.

No arrests have been made, but police are keeping a close watch on the situation, he added.