Curfew remains in force in Batala

Curfew remained in force here today, a day after two communities clashed and indulged in vandalising public property over publication of a picture of Jesus Christ allegedly in an objectionable manner.

The indefinite curfew continued for the second consecutive day following the inter-community clash, though the situation is under control, but tense, IG (border range) Preet Singh Sahota said.

Around 12 people, including a journalist of a Punjabi daily, were rounded up on the charge of violating the curfew order, police said.

As many as 2,000 police personnel have been deployed to thwart any untoward incident. 

Some members of a community had taken out a protest march through the town yesterday during which some of them turned
violent and set afire six two-wheelers, damaged three buses, a
shopping mall and around 50 shops in different areas.

They were protesting against the publication of a picture of Jesus Christ in a book by a Delhi-based publisher recently which was reproduced in some newspapers in the state.

Protesters of another community also took to the streets yesterday and tried to set afire a church, police said.