Jammu, Sep 29 (IANS) The situation in Poonch — the Jammu and Kashmir town close to the Pakistan border — was “under control” Saturday after overnight clashes that injured at least half-a-dozen people, the police said.
Clashes between two communities took place soon after the special Ramadan evening prayers were over on Friday. At least half-a-dozen people were injured in the stone pelting and when the police used sticks to chase the crowds away.
The trouble started when a stone hit one of the devotees at the congregation outside the main mosque of the communally sensitive town, triggering off noisy protests.
After the prayers, the devotees marched in a procession and tried to force closure of shops but shopkeepers resisted the move, leading to scuffles and then stone pelting from both sides, prompting the police to use teargas and chase the crowds away with sticks.
“The situation is under control,” Tahir Bhatt, officiating superintendent of police, told reporters.
This is the second incident of communal violence in the state this week after the one in Rajouri town immediately after India defeated Pakistan in the Twenty-20 World Championship cricket tournament Monday.