RAJKOT/VERAVAL: The communal tension that has claimed two lives in Veraval over the past two days, spread on Wednesday to Rajkot, which witnessed clashes in two areas where three people were injured.

Veraval , too, saw fresh incidents of arson and violence on Wednesday, even as a delegation of BJP leaders — including ex-MP Bhavna Chikhaliya and Junagadh mayor Mahendra Mashru — were visiting the town. The incidents occurred during curfew relaxation at Vakharia bazaar where two shrines were desecrated in the morning. Some seafood godowns were also set ablaze in the Bedia industrial area.

In Rajkot's Babaria Colony, a minor scuffle led to mobs clashing with swords when two persons sitting in a shop beat up two others from another community. The victims were passing by on a scooter and the shop-keepers claimed their vehicles splashed water on them. The two scooterists returned with a group of about 10, brandishing swords. Seeing them, a crowd gathered and in the ensuing clash, three fingers of the shop-owner, Bharatsinh Jadeja, were severed. His son Rajendrasinh also suffered injuries.

"What triggered the clash was a minor incident and this happens regularly. But in these charged times, it took an ugly turn," said Rasulbhai Saiyyed, who has a shop next to Jadeja's.

In the other incident, a group from one community attacked a man from another community with iron pipes in the Mafatnagar area of Rajkot.

The injury was not serious, the police said. Meanwhile in Veraval, the police arrested one Osman Ahmed Jaga on charges of having led the mob that attacked the school on Monday. Incidentally, Jaga's shop was burnt in the riots but inspector NB Khalaswa of Veraval town police station blames Jaga and Congress councillor Munir Maki for having led the mob. He said Maki would be booked.