Sunday, February 20 2005 15:26 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Lucknow: At least 20 people were injured and some shops and houses set ablaze in a sectarian clash during a Tazia procession on the occasion of Muharram in Lucknow today (Feb 20, 2005), forcing police to fire warning shots in the air to restore calm.

Tension ran high in Hussianabad area in the walled city, the scene of heavy stone-pelting between Shias and Sunnis, as Rapid Action Force (RAF) and adequate police were deployed to maintain order.

The trouble erupted when members of the Sunni community objected to the route of the Tazia procession, police sources said.

An altercation ensued that snowballed into a violent clash with both sides pelting stones at each other, they said.

Twenty people were injured and some shops and vehicles torched prompting police to open fire in the air and lob teargas shells to quell violence, the sources said.

Senior police officials camped in the area as authorities roped in leaders of both the sects to appeal to residents to maintain peace and harmony.