One killed, six hurt in communal clash in Aligarh

One person was killed and six others injured in a communal clash over the bursting of crackers in Khatikan locality of Delhi Gate area here on Thursday night. Police said the trouble started when some residents objected to the bursting of crackers near their house. The heated argument soon led to an exchange of brickbats followed by firing.

ALIGARH: One person was killed and six others injured in a communal clash over the bursting of crackers in Khatikan locality of Delhi Gate area here on Thursday night.

Police said the trouble started when some residents objected to the bursting of crackers near their house. The heated argument soon led to an exchange of brickbats followed by firing. Within minutes, mob fury broke out and a shop and several two-wheelers were set afire. A medical store owned by a retired judge was also burnt and his residence ransacked, said reports.

The incident occurred just 200 metres from the Delhi gate police station and some policemen who came to control the situation were also injured in the brick-batting.

At least seven people received serious injuries in the clash. Aligarh Range DIG Govind Agarwal said the injured were rushed to the medical college, where one person succumbed on Friday. “Gaurav had received bullet injuries during the clash and he died during treatment on Friday. His body will be handed over to his family after a postmortem examination,” he said.

District magistrate Balkar Singh said the state government had announced a compensation of ` 5 lakh for the family of the deceased and free medical facilities for the injured. Reports said Gaurav’s death once again led to tension in the area as members of both communities came face to face in Kailash Gali, forcing the district administration to deploy a heavy police force and clamp section 144 during Friday prayers.