Agency report

Jammu, Sep 25: Police fired teargas on Tuesday to break up clashes between Hindus and Muslims as celebrations over India's nail-biting Twenty20 cricket win over Pakistan in South Africa exploded into violence, officials said.
More than 35 people, including policemen, were hurt in the fighting, which broke out overnight in Indian Kashmir and continued on Tuesday, police said in Jammu, winter capital of the disputed Himalayan region.

"We have rushed additional forces to Rajouri where the two communities are fighting it out," said Rafeeq Sheikh, civilian administrator of the district bordering Pakistan.

Witnesses claimed Muslims provoked Hindus with pro-Pakistan slogans after India defeated their arch-rivals by five runs in the final of the inaugural World Twenty20 tournament in South Africa on Monday.

Muslims said they were targeted because Hindus perceive them as pro-Pakistan.

"A group of people (Muslims) offering prayers alleged they were attacked by people who were taking out a rally to mark India's victory," Jammu police chief SP Vaid said.

Rajouri police chief TR Katoch and three of his senior deputies were injured, prompting police to fire in the air with automatic rifles in an attempt to disperse the mob, Sheikh said.

In Jammu, Kashmir's only Hindu-majority city, some 1 000 Indian fans outnumbered Muslims ten-to-one as they stormed a college, other officials said.

Heavily-armed paramilitary troops also came under attack, forcing the authorities to ban public gatherings.

Similar clashes also broke out in Gujarat, where five policemen were hurt after they intervened between rioting Hindus and Muslims on Monday night in the western state, the United News of India said.

India, restricted to 157-5 after electing to bat, bowled out Pakistan for 152 in Johannesburg.