MUMBAI, Oct 26: Three people were killed when police opened fire with live ammunition to control a rampaging mob after Friday prayers in Maharashtra, authorities said.

A curfew was in place on Friday night after violence erupted near a mosque in Malegaon, a town 250kms from Mumbai.

A police spokesman said a group distributing pamphlets after Friday prayers turned violent when a police officer tore one of the papers.

“The mob then went on a rampage and burnt three shops. Police opened fire to control the mob (and) three people were killed,” the official said.

He said he did not know what the pamphlets contained and could not confirm whether the incident was related to protests against the US-led strikes in Afghanistan.—Reuters