At least six people were injured as fresh violence broke out between two communities during pre-Holi celebrations in Meerut late Sunday evening.
The situation is now said to be under control. A heavy police deployment has been made as tension prevailed in the area under Brahmpuri police station in Harinagar area of Meerut.
District Magistrate Deepak Meena and Senior Superintendent of Police Rohit Singh Sajwan also reached the spot.
Giving details, police said that two groups pelted stones at each other over a minor dispute in the Harinagar area of Meerut late on Sunday evening.
The conflict started when two youths were collecting donations for Holi celebrations and scuffled with members of another community after they allegedly made derogatory remarks about them.
The argument then escalated and members of both communities started pelting stones at each other, SSP Rohit Singh Sajwan said.
Police said in the incident, at least six people were injured in the stone pelting and the situation was brought under control.
As a precautionary measure, a police force has been deployed in the area under Brahmpuri police station limit to ensure law and order.
In this regard, three people have been detained by police.
Visuals from the spot showed damaged vehicles, broken window panes and panic-gripped locals running here and there.
Among the injured were two individuals from Hindu community who accused several Muslim men from the area of attacking them and threatening them to ruin the Holi celebrations.
The police spokesman said that CCTV footage was being scanned to identify the culprits. No arrest has been made so far in connection with the case and further investigation is underway.
Meanwhile, anti-social elements tried to spoil the atmosphere in Baghpat before the Holi festival. A case has come to the fore of throwing hundreds of saffron flags on the garbage heap near the Takiye Wali Masjid located in Kotwali area of Barot, with Jai Shri Ram written on the flags. The pictures of Hindu Gods were also printed on these saffron coloured flags.
As soon as the people of the Hindu organisation came to know about this, they reached the spot and created a ruckus. All this commotion took place at the old Khatta near the Takiye Wali Masjid in Barot, Baghpat.
On getting information, the police reached the spot with a heavy force and started investigation of the case. They assured the members of Hindu outfits and those involved in the mischief would be brought to book and sent to jail.
A heavy police force has been deployed in the area to avert any further mischief to disturb communal harmony during the Holi and Shab-e-Barat.