Barabanki (UP), March 4 At least 11 people were injured after a dispute over playing with colors during Holi escalated into a violent clash between two groups in a village here on Wednesday afternoon, police said.
The incident took place in Tikaria village under the jurisdiction of the Deva police station.
According to police, an argument between the two sides over playing with colors quickly turned into a bloody confrontation, with both groups allegedly attacking each other with sticks, batons, and iron rods for about 10 minutes, causing panic in the area.
Locals intervened and tried to bring the situation under control. Police officers who arrived at the scene after being informed pacified both sides.
Villagers said that eight people from one side and three from the other sustained injuries. All the injured were taken for medical examination, police said.
A villager, Avdhesh, alleged that members of the rival group entered his house when there were no male members and assaulted his family. He claimed that when he and others arrived there and tried to intervene, they were also beaten up.
Avdhesh further alleged that four persons held him and attacked him with a knife.
Tension had prevailed in the village following the clash, but the situation is currently under control, police said.
Deva Station House Officer Ajay Kumar Tripathi said that both sides have filed complaints, and a case will be registered based on them.
"Medical examination of the injured is being conducted. Necessary legal action will be taken after investigation," he said.
Police are also examining videos related to the incident and have appealed to residents to maintain peace, he added.
