NEW DELHI – The communal violence in Indian state has spread to seven moredistricts engulfing entire area and with the failure of paramilitary forcesthe Indian Army is likely to be called in.

Clashes broke out between two religious groups in Bihar’s Munger early onWednesday as communal tension triggered by violence during a festiveprocession in Bhagalpur on March 17 spread to seven districts, promptingthe authorities to deploy additional policemen and paramilitary troopers tocontrol the situation.

According to the police, more than 100 people, including policemen, havebeen injured in the violence over the past 10 days and several shops andbusiness establishments set on fire.

The state government, struggling to restore peace, imposed prohibitoryorders in some areas and deployed paramilitary and Rapid Action Force (RAF)personnel to tackle the unrest that broke out during this year’s Ram Navamicelebrations. More than 200 people have been arrested so far.

Police said Munger became the latest addition to the list of troubleddistricts after violence broke out over a controversial song being playedand inflammatory slogans shouted at an immersion procession of Chaiti Durga.

A large group had gathered in Munger’s Neelam Chowk thoroughfare in protestand the clashes began when the rally reached there, police said.

People from both sides shot firearms, threw stones and brickbats, and setproperty and vehicles on fire, police said, estimating that more than 100rounds of gunshots were fired as the violence engulfed severalneighbourhoods in the town.