Chandigarh: Indefinite curfew has been clamped at Malerkotla in Punjab`s Barnala district following violence in which a wooden plank kept in a Church and a police motor cycle were set on fire by miscreants.
The violence in parts of Malerkotla town late last night was triggered by rumours spread by some unidentified miscreants that a Holy Book has been desecrated in the US, Barnala Senior SSP Harcharan Singh Bhullar told a news agency on phone today.
Bhullar said SMSs in this regard were circulated by the miscreants after which some people gathered near a Church where a wooden plank kept there was set on fire.
There was no other damage to the church, Bhullar said, adding the situation was now under control following strict enforcement of the curfew restrictions.
The violence mainly took place in the Loha Bazaar area of the town where police patrolling has been intensified to maintain peace and prevent any further damage.
Bhullar said a decision on continuation of curfew would be taken later in the evening after reviewing the situation.
PTI
