Three people were killed and at least 12 injured on Friday in a clash after a few Hindu boys allegedly harassed some Muslim girls verbally, according to an The Indian Express report.
Police have identified the dead as members of the girls’ family Haseenuddin, 50, Sarfaraz, 17 and Ehsan, 36.
The incident in Pedda village took place around 8:15 am, with the groups of the two communities hurling stones at each other, police said, adding that there was even firing between the clashing groups.
According to the family of the deceased, the girls were harassed and there was a scuffle between the two communities. But locals stopped the fight and intervened to contain the situation. However, around 8.30 am, over 100 people from the Jat community from the surrounding villages gathered in Pedda and some of them fired at one Muslim family. This left the three dead and several injured.Vijay Singh Meena, IG, Bareilly Zone told Indian Express
Three people, aged between 27 and 30, were killed in the clash while at least 12 others were injured. Five were taken to Meerut for treatment of serious injuries.
According to police sources, the girl was on her way to school when she was allegedly harassed by some youth belonging to another community.
A passerby objected but he was beaten up by the accused, police said.
He had then told some people about the incident and soon a clash broke out, police said. There were reports of arson also.
Heavy police force has been deployed in the area in view of the incident.
DGP S Javed Ahmed said the situation was under control and ADG (Law and Order) was at the spot, monitoring the developments.
(With The Indian Express and PTI inputs)
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