RAUTAHAT: Police on Thursday opened a dozen rounds of fire to disperse mob to normalise the situation after Hindus and Muslims clashed in Rajpur Municipality of Rautahat district.

Kudiya and Rajpur villages have remained tensed following the clash between the two religious groups today.

The situation occurred when Muslim youths yesterday replaced Hindu idol of Shree Sapta made during Chhath festival with their Moharam Tajiya and hoisted a flag near the river in Kudiya market area.

After the incident, police tried to persuade local Muslim leaders to refrain from conflict, however, the mob came out with sticks and rods, and hurled stones targeting security personnel and smashed the windshield of a vehicle.

District Police Office, Rautahat said, in defence police retaliated with 30 rounds of air fire and 28 shells of tear gas around 1:30 pm today.

According to the District Security Committee, security forces were compelled to open-air fire after the mob attacked security personnel as they had removed the flag hoisted by them in the area.

APF Inspector Ram Balak Sah, DSP Parmanda Yadav, two security personnel and others were injured during the clash.

Following the incident, as many as 300 security personnel have been deployed to heighten security to thwart any untoward activities in the area, Chief District Office Kiran Thapa said.