Sectarian clashes trigger tension in Kashmir village
By IANSThursday, February 25, 2010
SRINAGAR - Over a dozen people were injured and several houses and shops were destroyed Thursday in a clash between Shias and Sunnis in a village in north Kashmir’s Baramulla district, police said.
Tensions was brewing in the Kangamdara village, 30 km from here, between the members of the two sects since last month over the naming of a village market square and authorities were able to amicably resolve the issue.
However, clashes took place Thursday afternoon after members of one sect erected a sign board in the market square, to which members of the other sect objected.
The villagers hurled stones when police intervened to restore order in the village, while news about clashes spread to adjoining villages increasing tension.
Angry villagers torched over a dozen shops and five houses belonging to both sects, while a dozen people were injured.
Senior police officers are camping in the area and more units of police and paramilitary Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) have been deployed in the areas to maintain calm.
Elders of the two communities have now been engaged in easing tensions between the two communities.
Meanwhile, authorities have imposed curfew in ten villages in the area.
