One person was killed and over 20 injured as communal clashes broke out in Kishtwar district where curfew was clamped and Army called in to assist the local administration in maintaining law and order.
The victim, whose identity was not immediately known, suffered gunshot wounds when a group of protestors fired at him near a petrol pump in Kishtwar.
He, along with two others injured in the incident, were rushed to the Army hospital in the area where doctors could not save him. The other two were then taken to the Army Command hospital at Udhampur.
The clashes continued despite Army patrolling the streets, a senior official said, adding more troops have been requisitioned for the trouble spots.
The streets of Kishtwar saw ugly scenes with people of two communities attacking each other and indulging in widespread arson or torching shops and vehicles.
The trouble in this district, 226 kms from here, erupted this morning after a group of people raised anti-national slogans after Eid prayers, officials and locals said, adding that this led to violent clashes.
The communal clashes spread like wild fire in other parts of the district with two groups indulging in stone-pelting, they said, adding at least 20 people were injured.
Police and CRPF personnel rushed to the area and used batons and teargas besides firing in the air to disperse the warring mobs gathered in various parts of the district.
A list of Village Defence Committee members was drawn up quickly so that the arms given to them could be withdrawn.
Five shops, a truck and a hotel belonging to a kin of an MLC were burnt down in the arson, police said.
Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah directed senior state and civil officials including police chief Ashok Prasad to rush to the scene and try and control the situation.
Minister of State for Home Sajjad Kitchloo was already in the area for his Eid celebrations. However, he could not move out of his Dak Banglow because of the clashes.
