Twenty-two people, including three policemen were injured following police action and firing. To contain unrest, curfew was imposed on the riot-hit areas of the city.

According to police sources, a caricature defaming the Prophet was posted on the notice board of the district collector’s office Thursday morning that infuriated Muslims.

Protesters pelted two buses with stones at Tiranga Chowk in the area. The mob reportedly assaulted the bus passengers and tried to rob them. As the protesters were about to set the buses ablaze, police reached the troubled spot and fired shots to disperse them.

Two youths, Adil Fazul-ur-Rahman Ansari, 19 and Siraj Jamal Ansari, 25, were seriously injured in the police firing. Panic spread in the town and shopkeepers pulled down their shutters.

Meanwhile, agitated Muslims met the District Collector Gokul Maware and the controversial cartoon was removed. Maware assured the Muslims that strong action would be taken against those involved.

District Congress chief Yuvraj Karankal visited the injured at the Civil Hospital and appealed to the citizens to stay calm. City Congress General Secretary Mobin Ansari said that Adil Ansari, who was injured in the police firing was returning home after appearing for the Centralized Education Test (CET).