Bangalore, Oct 9 (IANS) Curfew has been extended in Mangalore till Monday evening after sectarian clashes claimed two lives and injured over 100 people in the last three days, police officials said Sunday.

The situation - after Hindu-Muslim clashes erupted Wednesday over the slaughter of cows, which are revered by Hindus - was under control, Karnataka director-general of police B.S. Sial told reporters.

The curfew had been extended to maintain law and order, he added from Mangalore, about 330 km from here.

"The port city (Mangalore) and nearby towns such as Pottur, Ullal, Konaje and Bhatkal are limping back to normalcy. The violence-hit areas in these places remained peaceful when the curfew was relaxed for over two hours during the day," Sial said.

As a precautionary measure, the district administration, however, declared a holiday for schools and colleges over the next two days.

With markets, business establishments, hotels and theatres remaining closed for the third consecutive day, the coastal city and surrounding areas remained desolate and normal life was affected.

When the curfew was relaxed between 9-11 a.m., people rushed to markets to stock up on provisions. Shortages of milk, vegetables and fish were reported in several areas as the demand outstripped supply.

Senior police official B. Dayanand told IANS on phone that barring an attack on people travelling in an ambulance that hurt six people Saturday, no other untoward incident had been reported.

State Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy told reporters here that Home Minister M.P. Prakash would go to Mangalore Monday to take stock of the situation.

"The situation in Mangalore has been brought under control. About 180 miscreants and anti-social elements were arrested. The home minister will visit the riot-affected areas and discuss measures to restore peace," Kumaraswamy said.

Deputy Chief Minister B.S. Yediyurappa denied the hand of the Vishwa Hindu Parishad or any other right-wing organisations in the clashes that rocked Mangalore.

He told reporters in Shimoga that the state government had ordered an inquiry into the incidents and directed the state police chief to submit a report within a week.