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20 cops hurt in violence in Maharashtra

Police Friday fired in the air and lobbed tear-gas shells in Aurangabad after 13 cops were injured in stone-pelting by a mob protesting against the alleged burning of the holy Koran in New Delhi even as sporadic incidents of violence were reported from Pune, Nanded and Parbhani in Maharashtra.

At least six cops were injured in stoning in Pune, while a police chowkie was ransacked there.

In Aurangabad, the incident was sparked off after activists of the Students Islamic Movement of India attempted to burn a symbolic effigy of those reportedly behind the Delhi episode.

The protestors outside Jama Masjid in the old area of Aurangabad resorted to stone pelting and attempted to set on fire a police van after two SIMI activists were arrested, police added.

Police lobbed four teargas shells and fired six rounds in the air to disperse the mob.

The situation in Aurangabad was reported to be ''tense but under control''.

Similar stone pelting was reported from Nanded and Parbhani in Marathwada, police said adding that situation was ''normal now''.

Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Chhagan Bhujbal has appealed to the people to maintain peace in the state and not to believe in any rumour.

In Pune, the mob resorted to stone pelting after seeing a provocative poster being put up in front of a place of worship.

Tension prevailed in the eastern parts of the city as news of protestors ransacking Ghorpadipeth police chowkie spread. Some Pune Municipal Transport buses, private cars, scooters and other vehicles were damaged as the mob turned violent, police said.

Police Commissioner K Kashyap has asked the people not to fall prey to rumours and warned that mischief-mongers will be severely dealt with.

Ghorpadipeth, Guruwarpeth and Ganjpeth were tense following the incident. Two companies of the State Reserve Police Force have been deployed in the areas, besides the police.

Some people have been arrested in this connection and the situation is under control, the police said.

A peace committee meeting of eminent persons is being convened at the office of the police commissioner.

In Aurangabad, several private vehicles were damaged in the stone-pelting.

Two teenagers were injured in stoning at Nanded, where the protestors hurled stones at shops and business establishments. Similar incidents were reported from Parbhani.

PTI

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