Communal tension flared up in Bareilly after a clash between two communities when a procession was being taken out on the occasion of Krishna Janmashtami. The clash in Makri Mavada village left about half-a-dozen people, including a woman, critically injured. 

The agitated mobs also torched several vehicles before the local police used force to chase them away. 

Senior officials, including DIG Bareilly Range, Rajesh Pandey, reached the spot and controlled the situation. 

A case has been registered in this regard by the police and efforts are on to nab the accused. 

According to reports, a ‘shobha yatra’ had reached its final destination in the Muslim majority village under Devraniya police station in Bareilly on Friday afternoon when members of one community started pelting stones at the other causing commotion, circle officer of Baheri, Alok Agrahari, said. 

Both the groups brandished weapons, including firearms, the CO said, adding that additional force from four police stations and PAC was rushed to the village to control the situation.

The timing of the traditional ‘shobha yatra’ was deferred to 3 pm in view of Friday prayers and the incident took place when the procession reached its last destination at the Holi crossing, the CO said. 

The injured were admitted to hospital, he added. SP (Rural) Sansar Singh, who visited the village, said that adequate force had been deployed and stern action would be initiated against those behind attempts to vitiate the atmosphere.