HARIPUR, Nov 4: At least 11 people, including a women, sustained injuries when two rival groups exchange fire over a dispute in village Najafpur, some 28 kilometres from here, on Sunday evening.

The police have arrested 25 people of the rival sects and put a ban on the use of loudspeaker except Aazan (call for prayers) and Friday sermon. Heavy contingent of police has also been deployed to avoid any further clash.

The police said that a cross case against 25 people from either side had been registered while 40 others were detained under section 107 PPC to ward off any loss of life.

Tension between the two rival groups ensued when some people from the Berelvi sect banned the entry of those belonging to the Ahl-i-Hadith sect in the Markazi Jamia Masjid, and accused the Khateeb of the Ahl-i-Hadith of committing blasphemy.

According to the FIR, lodged by Basharat Khan with the Khanpur police, he (Basharat) along with other faithful were present in the mosque when some 13 men from the Ahl-i-Hadith pelted stones on them and then opened indiscriminate fire.

Resultantly, Basharat claimed that at least six people, including a woman, sustained injuries. He alleged that the Ahl-i- Hadith people had attempted to occupy their (Berelvi) mosque forcibly.

The Ahl-i-Hadith followers, however, nominate 12 people in their FIR and accused the Berelvi group of thrashing and injuring their five men when they went to the mosque for ablution.

According to eyewitnesses, the tension between the rival sects further mounted when some Berelvi people accused Hafiz Abdul Qadeer of the Ahl-i-Hadith sect using sacrilegious remarks against Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon him).

Hafiz Qadeer, however, denied the allegations and took an oath to prove his innocence before a group of elders at the Khanpur police station.

Both the groups, however, traded fire on the same night.