Two groups clash in Munger as communal tension grips Bihar

UNREST More than 100 people, including cops, have been injured in the violence over the past 10 days PATNA:

Clashes broke out between two religious groups in Bihar’s Munger early on Wednesday as communal tension triggered by violence during a festive procession in Bhagalpur on March 17 spread to seven districts, prompting the authorities to deploy additional policemen and paramilitary troopers to control the situation.

According to the police, more than 100 people, including policemen, have been injured in the violence over the past 10 days and several shops and business establishments set on fire.

The state government, struggling to restore peace, imposed prohibitory orders in some areas and deployed paramilitary and Rapid Action Force (RAF) personnel to tackle the unrest that broke out during this year’s Ram Navami celebrations.

More than 200 people have been arrested so far.

Police said Munger became the latest addition to the list of troubled districts after violence broke out over a controversial song being played and inflammatory slogans shouted at an immersion procession of Chaiti Durga.

A large group had gathered in Munger’s Neelam Chowk thoroughfare in protest and the clashes began when the rally reached there, police said.

People from both sides shot firearms, threw stones and brickbats, and set property and vehicles on fire, police said, estimating that more than 100