October 12, 2002	Saturday	Sha'aban 5, 1423

MUMBAI, Oct 11: Five people died and 50 were injured on Friday when violence broke out in the western Indian city of Solapur during a protest over comments by US Baptist minister Jerry Falwell against the Holy Prophet (pbuh).

“We do know for a fact at this stage whether the five people were killed in police firing or in the sectarian clashes,” a police spokesman said, adding that 50 others were injured.

“Some police officials were also injured when the violent mob resorted to stone-pelting.”

He said the injured were being treated in hospital.

The spokesman said violence broke out when a crowd of Muslim youths gathered in the city to protest Falwell’s derogatory remarks.

“Various Muslim bodies in the city had called for a strike today to protest these remarks. However, violence broke out when the mob clashed with some Hindu groups,” the police spokesman said.

“Additional police forces have been called in to control the situation which remains tense,” he added.

However, a similar strike called by Muslim bodies in Mumbai ended peacefully. —AFP