KOHAT, Nov 18: Troops were called in after two people, one of them a policeman, were killed and three others injured in sectarian clashes in Kohat on Monday.

The administration imposed curfew for an indefinite period when, officials said, a mob torched a number of shops at around 2.30pm.

Tension also gripped the adjoining areas of Hangu district and the administration imposed a partial curfew to avert any untoward incident.

According to witnesses, riots broke out in Zargaran bazaar when speeches were being made during a demonstration organised by the Ahle Sunnat Wal Jamaat in protest against the Rawalpindi incident.

More than 10 shops were set on fire in Teerah bazaar and the fire tender was stopped from going to the place because there were fears of an explosion at a shop of gas cylinders. The mob torched shops belonging to a religious group but it soon engulfed the other shops which were also gutted.

All markets, schools and colleges in Kohat and Hangu were closed for an indefinite period.

The road linking the two towns was also closed and army moved into Hangu.

The education department postponed examinations of intermediate classes till Nov 29. The Kohat University and the local campus of the University of Engineering, Peshawar, were also closed.

During the riots, Constable Noor Mohammad received bullet wounds while protecting an officer from the mob. The constable and a pedestrian, Khairur Rehman, were killed.

JIRGA: The grand jirga to resolve the issue of firing and riots in Kohat was postponed on Monday night till Tuesday. It would resume the proceedings at the Jirga Hall of the Deputy Commissioner House.