Curfew in Punjab town after rumours of Quran burning in US

CHANDIGARH - Curfew was imposed in Punjab’s Malerkotla town Monday following communal tension in which the property of a church was set on fire by a mob enraged after rumours that the Quran has been burnt in the US.

Police officials in Malerkotla, about 150 km from here, said curfew would continue till tension subsides in the town.

Violence erupted late Sunday after a rumour spread that the Quran has been burnt in Michigan, US. Soon, a mob gathered and proceeded to the town’s only church, shouting slogans against the US government. The mob then set furniture of the church on fire before the police intervened.

Situation in the town remained tense throughout the night and Punjab Police rushed reinforcements.

Police officials said the rumour about the desecration of the holy book started following the recent controversy in the US after a pastor in Florida threatened to burn copies of the Quran on the anniversary of the 9/11 terror attacks.