Clashes in Krishnanagar over idol immersion: Curfew imposed, one dead

FIRING LEAVES ONE DEAD

KAPILVASTU, Oct 31: One person has been killed in police firing in Krishnanagar of Kapilvastu district on Thursday.

The police had opened fire after a group of locals staged protest violating the curfew order imposed by the district administration following the clash in Krishnanagar that erupted since Wednesday when a dispute between two communities over the immersion of the idol of goddess Laxmi went out of control.

The deceased has been identified as Suraj Kumar Pandey, 20, of Kapilvastu-2. Pandey received a bullet in his left eye. His body has been taken to Bahadurgunj Hospital.

The tension had emerged after a group of unidentified youths started hurling stones at another group who were going to consign the idol of Laxmi at Jhandinagar of Krishnanagar following the conclusion of Hindu festival Tihar, according to reports.

Meanwhile, an emergency security meeting of the district administration has imposed an indefinite curfew between 700 meters north of Krishnanagar Customs Office to 700 meters to the west and 300 meters to the south.

The situation had turned worse after two policemen and about a dozen locals were injured during the clash on Wednesday evening.

The police had to fire 50 rounds of tear gas to take the situation under control.