Lucknow, India - Indian authorities have imposed a curfew in parts of a northern city, in an effort to stem Hindu-Muslim riots triggered by the killing of a man over the weekend, an official said on Monday.
“Shoot at sight orders have been issued for those violating the curfew,” said Hari Om, administrator of Gorakhpur city, 250 kilometres south-east of Lucknow.
The sporadic rioting began on Saturday following an argument as two separate processions came face-to-face in a part of Hindu-dominated Gorakhpur.
A group of Hindus were taking part in a marriage procession while a group of Muslims were marking the martyrdom of Hazrat Imam Hussain.
During clashes that followed the argument, 24-year-old Rajkumar Agrahari was killed, a police spokesman said, further provoking tension.
Violent groups later smashed cars, vandalised shops and pelted stones at the police, he said.
A curfew was imposed in the area but later extended to more parts of the city, he added.
The tensions swelled further on Sunday when police detained a group of Hindus led by federal MP and religious leader Yogi Adityanath who were demanding the arrest of those who stabbed Agrahari.
“Yogi Adityanath along with his 50 supporters were (later) arrested on the charges of inciting communal riots,” R.M. Srivastava, secretary of the interior department said in Lucknow.