BOMBAY/NEW DELHI, 30 October — Two people were feared killed in the western town of Malegaon in a fresh outbreak of clashes between anti-US protesters and the police, Malegaon police officials said yesterday.
"We have been told that two people were killed Sunday night, but it is not yet confirmed. However, fresh cases of riots and arson have been reported," an official at Malegaon police control said.
On Friday police gunned down seven people in the town in Maharashtra state when a crowd of more than 100 Muslim protesters turned violent during a demonstration against the US military strikes on Afghanistan.
The clashes took place when police prevented the protesters from distributing leaflets asking shopkeepers and traders to boycott US goods.
The Home Ministry yesterday said the situation was tense but under control in Malegaon with army and police guarding the town heavily. "We have been told by the Nashik range police that the situation is under control," a Home Ministry official said.
But he said the fresh incidents of violence were outside the town of Malegaon, where there were fewer army and police patrols.
"The army is largely guarding the town of Malegaon which was affected Friday. But the new cases of riots are being reported from outside the town around 10-12 km away," he added.
Ministry officials did not rule out a political hand behind the rioting in Malegaon, a traditionally peaceful town.
Repercussions of the incident in Malegaon — about 110 km from Nashik town — spilled over to the neighboring areas of Ravalgaon, Vadner-Khakurdi, Vadel, Karanj-Gavhan in Malegaon taluka, where mobs set shops afire.
Maharashtra Home Minister Chhagan Bhujbal has said investigations were on into what triggered the riots and those responsible for the clashes.
Analysts feel the impact of US strikes on Afghanistan has begun spilling over into parts of India in form of communal tension.
