About 20 people were hurt as police fought pitched battles with members of the trading community late on Tuesday.

Senior police officer Anil Raturi said: "The situation is tense and efforts are being made to bring it under control."

Haridwar, in Uttaranchal, is a revered Hindu site that is visited by thousands of pilgrims every day.

Baton charge

Tension arose after the wife made the accusation on Tuesday afternoon and traders took to the streets in protest.

The police, who deny their officers were involved, responded with a baton charge.

The traders then attacked two police posts at Harkipauri and Kharkhari, setting fires and throwing stones.

The businessmen said police opened fire on them, hitting two protesters.

Some of the other people injured were reportedly members of the media.

A local magistrate, SK Maheshwari, said the curfew would remain in place "till the situation comes back to normal".