Eight killed, more than 250 hurt in violence during Holi

New Delhi (PTI): Violence during Holi celebrations has claimed eight lives, including two in communal clashes in Varanasi, and injured over 250.

While four persons were killed in Uttar Pradesh, three died in Bihar and a tailor was stabbed to death in the national capital, police said.

Two persons were killed and 14 injured when police opened fire to disperse members of two communities who clashed during Holi celebrations in the temple town of Varanasi on Wednesday.

The clashes erupted after youth of a community saw colour splashed on a mosque and hurled stones at a Hindu locality, drawing retaliation, police said.

In the state's Bahraich district, five arsons were torched and members of two communities clashed leaving six persons injured. In Gazipur also in Uttar Pradesh, a 16-year-old youth was killed in a clash between two groups during Holi festivities, police said on Thursday.

In Lisad village of Muzaffarnagar district in the state, a 6-year-old boy was killed when two groups of villagers, who were allegedly drunk, exchanged fire during Holi festivities. Three persons were killed in Bihar's Chhapra and Nawada districts.

In Delhi, a young tailor was stabbed to death when he objected to a group of people throwing colour on a woman who was accompanying him.