At least one person was killed and over a dozen injured, most of them seriously, in an outbreak of communal violence in tribal-dominated Jhabua district of Madhya Pradesh on Friday as a sequel to the rape and murder of a nine-year-old Christian girl.
A procession of members belonging to one community, which was returning from a religious discourse, came under fire at Amkhur village, about 70 km from Jhabua town, killing 25-year-old Arjun Pal, DGP SK Das told reporters.
Asked about unofficial reports of death of three persons in the violence, Das said there was confirmation available so far of only one killing.
In retaliation to the attack on the procession at Amkhur, a church was attacked, a priest beaten up and a missionary school ransacked and houses of some Christians were set on fire at Alirajpur, 20 km away, Das said.
He said the precisionists shouted slogans some of which were "provocative" which could have led to the attack.
A motorcycle was set afire and three jeeps were damaged in the violence in Alirajpur, police sources said.
Members of two communities clashed and mob attacks were reported from Meghanagar and some other places in the district setting off communal tension.
Over 600 policemen have been deployed in the troubled-areas, Das said.
The DGP said no arrests have been made so far in connection with the violence.
In a late night press conference in Bhopal, Chief Minister Uma Bharati said stern action would be taken against those responsible for the incident.
She appealed to all the political parties not to politicise the incident and asked people to help maintain peace and restore communal harmony.
Asked if the incidents were linked to conversion in the area, Bharti said "there is a general complaint about the role of missionaries, particularly in Jhabua."
Investigations are on and it would be clear in two-three days if the incidents were linked with conversion, she said.
Bharati said two of her ministerial colleagues Kailash Vijayvargeya (PWD) and Kailash Chawala (Industry) would visit the trouble-torn area on Saturday.
"I am confident that the situation will be brought under control and not allowed to worsen, " she said.