Police sources said trouble broke out at around 2.30 pm on Thursday, when a police police team reached Darbargarh crossing in the town where a mob had gathered with stones and sharp weapons. The mob reacted violently when asked to disperse, assaulting the policemen and throwing stones at them.

They said the police first burst teargas shells, but resorted to firing when they were in turn fired upon by members of the mob. The police fired seven rounds.

Thursday's incident is a sequel to Wednesday's clashes betwen members of two communities. The police said the incident originated in a clash on Monday between two students of different communities at Chameria High School; others, however, said that clashesstarted at 8 pm on Wednesday when a scooterist belonging to one community hit a member of another community.

The scooterist was assaulted badly and was first rushed to SSG Hospital for treatment but was finally admitted to a government-approved private hospital in Vadodara. His condition is stated to be serious but out of danger.

As many as 20 persons from both communities were arrested on Wednesday and 18 others on Thursday after curfew was imposed. More than two dozen others were detained as a preventive measure.

Two cases relating to the incident were registered. A case of rioting against 16 persons from both communities was registered on Wednesday. Another case of rioting against three other persons, including Congress leader Iqbal Kakuji, was registered on Thursday but none of those named in this case had been arrested till the time of going to press on Thursday.