MUMBAI, Oct 12: Four people were killed on Saturday in Solapur in continuing violence triggered after US preacher Jerry Falwell’s blasphemous remarks against the Holy Prophet (pbuh).

“One died when police opened fire to disperse mobs who were setting shops on fire, and another was killed in a stabbing incident,” Manikrao Thakre, deputy interior minister of the Maharashtra state, said.

“We have stepped up security. Over 2,000 police officials are patrolling the troubled areas.”

Two other people were mortally wounded when police opened fire and died in hospital, a police official said, adding that groups of people continued to burn shops and damage vehicles.

Five people were killed on Friday in the textile town, about 450kms from Mumbai, in communal violence sparked by the pastor’s comments.—Reuters