At least 12 people were injured in a clash between Hindus and Muslims over the burning of a portrait of Osama bin Laden, authorities in the eastern Indian state of Bihar said today.
Bihar's Home Commissioner Mr UN Panjiyar said the clash occurred after around 150 Hindus held a rally and tried to burn portraits of bin Laden and a leading New Delhi Muslim cleric Syed Ahmed Bukhari for a speech in which he called the US-led bombings in Afghanistan an act of terrorism .
Members of the two communities clashed in the Phulwarisharif area, which is dominated by the Muslim community, in state capital Patna.
The situation is now under control, Mr Panjiyar said, adding para-military forces had been sent to the area.
He said today’s rally was in retaliation to one yesterday held by Muslim youths who had shouted slogans in favour of bin Laden and burnt an effigy of President George W. Bush.
Indian police fired teargas and used water cannons to disperse thousands of Muslims protesting against the US-led strikes on Afghanistan.
Muslims poured onto the streets of major Indian cities after Friday prayers shouting anti-US slogans. They burnt effigies of Mr Bush and the British flag, demanding an immediate stop to the bombings that began on Sunday.