Hyderabad:
Communal violence broke out in Sangareddy town of Andhra Pradesh late Thursday night, forcing the police to clamp indefinite curfew in the area.
Twenty people were injured and several shops were set afire in the town, about 70 km from Hyderabad
The police said that the situation on Friday was peaceful but tense. A police officer said patrolling has been intensified in the sensitive areas and the curfew was continuing as a precautionary measure.
The violence broke out Thursday night when a youth allegedly posted on Facebook a provocative photograph of a place of worship. Even as a group of people was staging a protest outside police station demanding his arrest, a mob started attacks on shops and vehicles at Old Bus Stand.
The rampaging mob set afire 40 shops, two four-wheelers and four auto rickshaws. It also looted several other shops and small road-side kiosks. A police vehicle was also torched.
The looting and attacks continued till 1 a.m.
As many as 20 people including few policemen were also injured in the stone pelting by two groups.
Police has called additional forces from other parts of the district. As a precautionary measure, security has been tightened in other towns and districts.