KHAIRPUR, March 23: Tension prevails in the town’s Kutchery Road area where 10 people were injured in a clash between two religious groups on Friday.

Normalcy is returning to other parts of the city but fears of sectarian clashes still persist.

On Friday, a religious group took out a procession in connection with Eid Miladun Nabi (PBUH). When the procession was passing through Kutchery Road, an exchange of fire took place between two religious groups which continued for more than an hour.

Seven people from one group, Mohammad Hashim Naqvi, Syed Qasim, Sajid Shah, Mohammad Ali Shah, Mazhar Abbas Shah, Hajan and Hakim Shah, and Ghulam Mohammad Dharejo, Rab Nawaz Phulpoto and Imran Malik from the other group were injured.

Police used tear gas to end the clashes.

Protesters set ablaze a police prisoners’ van and a police mobile. They attacked a fire tender when it came to put out the fire.

Markets and bazaars were immediately closed.

Activists of a religious group damaged some shops in various areas of Khairpur city, including Panj Hatti and Panj Gulla roundabouts.

Panic spread in the city and a curfew-like situation was witnessed in the affected area where residents were asked to remain indoors.

The seven injured of the first group were taken to a Sukkur hospital and three others to the Khairpur Civil Hospital. But, Rab Nawaz Phulpoto was referred to the Nawabshah Medical College Hospital on Saturday due to his critical condition.

On Saturday, trade activities along the Kutchery Road remained suspended and public movement was also thin. Main bazaars, markets and business centres remained partially closed as some traders observed strike and others did not open shops due to fear.Heavy contingents of police and Rangers were deployed at Panj Gulla and Chhatti roundabouts, Kutchery Road and other areas. A meeting of police and Rangers was held at the DPO office and attended by senior police and Rangers officials.

On Sunday, heavy contingents of police and Rangers with an armoured personnel carrier remained deployed in the affected areas.

Our Nawabshah correspondent adds: Member of the Shia Ulema Council staged a demonstration outside the Imambargah Karbala to protest against Khairpur violence.

They alleged that the Khairpur district administration had allowed a banned outfit to take out a procession and called upon the authorities to take action against the officials involved.