Twenty people injured as two groups clash in Bhopal

Dispute over a religious place resulted in clashes

Nearly 20 people were injured after two groups belonging to a minority community clashed with each other over a trivial matter in Karond area of the city here, with the mob setting ablaze four houses and a number of vehicles, a senior official said.

Twenty persons suffered injuries in the clashes in Karond area, Bhopal Collector Nishant Warwade told PTI.

The clashes took place over some minor dispute related to a religious place, after which the two groups fought with each other on Wednesday night.

Though the police calmed them down, the situation turned violent again on Thursday morning. The two groups pelted stones, set four houses and a number of vehicles on fire, including a dozen two-wheelers in the area, he said.

Police lobbed several rounds of teargas shells and lathi-charged those indulging in violence to control the situation, Superintendent of Police (SP) North Arvind Saxena said.

"The situation is fully under control," the collector said yesterday.

The police has rounded up a number of people, but their exact numbers would be known later, he said.

The police force has been deployed in strength to control the situation, he said.