SRIGANGANAGAR: At least 30 people including four policemen were injured and 22 arrested as clashes between Akalis and followers of the Dera Sacha Sauda sect spilled over into Rajasthan on Tuesday.

Prohibitory orders were clamped on the town after some 700 people belonging to both factions clashed near the district collectorate.

The trouble started when some 300 Akali activists converged near the district collectorate here and tried to burn Dera chief Baba Gurmit Singh Ram Rahim in effigy leading to a clash with Dera followers, Additional Superintendent of Police Mahipal Singh said.

He said both sides pelted each other with stones and police had to use water cannon and batons to disperse the mob.

More than 30 people, including four policemen and some mediapersons, were injured in the melee, Singh said.

He said police reinforcements were deputed in the town to control the situation which was "tense".

Members of the Sikh faith were watching the live coverage on various news channels of the clashes in Bathinda in Punjab and other places.

The clashes between followers of the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee and the Dera broke out after news reports and an advertisement showing the head of the Sirsa-based sect allegedly distributing 'amrit' (nector) while attired in the dress of Guru Gobind Singh.