Tension in Indian city after Sikh protest leaves one dead

Dec 5, 2009, 10:36 GMT

New Delhi - An indefinite curfew was imposed in India's northern Ludhiana city Saturday after Sikhs protesting the holding of a religious congregation clashed with police, leaving one dead and 15 injured, news reports said.

A government official said the curfew had been imposed in parts of Ludhiana, 240 kilometres north-west of New Delhi, due to the tension building up in the city after the clashes, the PTI news agency reported.

The trouble began after Sikh protesters tried to disrupt a conference of sect leader Ashutosh Maharaj, whose teachings, Sikhs say are antithetical to their religion.

Police fired in the air and lobbed tear gas at the rioters, who tried to attack the conference venue.

'We tried to stop them but they attacked the police and tried to forcibly cross the barricades. They had come with full preparation and were carrying sticks and swords. To control the situation, police had to fire in the air to disperse mob,' a police official told the IANS news agency.

Police sources told the news agency that one person was fatally shot in the chest.

At least 10 vehicles, including those of the police, were also damaged by the protesters. Three policemen were injured in the rioting.

Patrolling was intensified and additional police has been deployed to prevent further violence.

Ludhiana, the industrial hub of northern Punjab state, had also witnessed violence Friday after hundreds of migrants went on a rampage and set 23 vehicles on fire in protest at police inaction against crime.