VARANASI: Communal tension gripped Muslim-dominated Mukeriganj area of Mirzapur district on Tuesday evening following a clash between Vishwa Hindu Parishad activists and those observing Milad-un-Nabi.After the clash, two local BJP MLAs, Ratnakar Mishra and Ramashankar Patel, BJP city chief Balendu Mani Tripathi also joined the VHP protesters, who staged a sit-in stir till late evening.Reports said in a bid to mobilise people for reaching Ayodhya on November 25 for Dharm Sabha, the local unit VHP carried out a bike rally in the city on Tuesday afternoon. Some characters in make-up of Lord Ram and Lord Hanuman were moving ahead, while other VHP activists were following them in the rally.When they entered Mukeriganj, which was decorated with religious flags and electrical bulbs to mark Milad-un-Nabi on Wednesday, some flags fell on road creating tension. VHP Mirzapur district unit president Ramchandra Shukla alleged that a group of local youths attacked the VHP activists after targeting the boys in the make-up of Hindu deities.With the spread of news of attack on VHP men, people from neighbouring localities ran towards Mukeriganj, where people of the two communities clashed and indulged in brick-batting for over an hour.However, VHP activists started a sit-in at the place. Shukla alleged that despite repeated efforts, the SP could not be contacted on time due to which no policemen reached the area and local youths got the opportunity to attack VHP activists. He warned that the VHP will continue its sit-in indefinitely and will not allow people of other community to carry out their Milad-un-Nabi procession on Wednesday.ADG Varanasi zone PV Ram Sahastri said that the situation was under control in Mirzapur. "The DM and SP are holding talks with prominent citizens of both the groups to maintain law and order,"he added.

Stay updated with all the Varanasi Latest News headlines here. For more exclusive & live news updates from all around India, stay connected with NYOOOZ.