World Cup result sets off clashes in Uttar Pradesh

Lucknow: Members of two communities clashed in Ballia district of Uttar Pradesh following India’s win over Pakistan in an ICC World Cup 2015 group match, police said on Monday.

Members of one community took umbrage after some supporters of the Indian cricket team started bursting crackers and dancing on the roads to celebrate their team’s win. Some youths started pelting stones at the raucous fans before beating them up and setting a motorbike on fire.

A shopkeeper asked the revellers not to burst crackers as his cotton shop could catch fire, police said. Both sides soon turned on each other.

The spat turned ugly as the violence spread to the entire locality, police said.

“More than half-dozen people have been injured in the clashes. The situation is under control and additional police personnel have been deployed in the area,” police said.

India defeated Pakistan by 76 runs as both teams met for their first group match of the World Cup in Adelaide on Sunday. It was India’s sixth straight World Cup win over their arch-rivals.