One dead in Guj communal clash, cops say unclear if police

One person died of a bullet injury during a clash between two communities at Khambat town in Anand district of Gujarat on Friday, a senior police official said. Police had opened fire to bring the situation under control, but it was yet to be ascertained whether the deceased man, identified as Vinu Chavda, was hit by the bullet fired by the police, the official said.

"A clash broke out between two communities in the communally-sensitive Akbarpur area of Khambat town. The police fired some rounds to bring the situation under control," Superintendent of Police (SP) Makrand Chauhan said. "One person died after being hit by a bullet. However, it is a matter of investigation whether he was hit by a bullet fired by the police or any private person. The situation is now under control," he added.

A video of the incident showed people hurling stones from terraces of houses lined along narrow streets during the clash. A police official said on the condition of anonymity that houses of five persons belonging to both the communities were torched during the clash.

He said that rounds were fired and tear gas shells lobbed by the police to bring the situation under control..