The news of the death of a youth, who was injured in a police firing in Nawada, fuelled tension in the town and its adjoining areas on Sunday.

Additional forces, including the personnel of the Rapid Action Force, were deployed and flag marches taken out to bring the situation under control.

Kundan alias Goga, 28, who had been injured in the police firing on Saturday after clashes between two groups, succumbed to injuries at Patna Medical College and Hospital on Sunday morning. As the news about Kundan’s death spread, hundreds of people came out on the streets.

The police had a tough time dealing with the protesters, who put up road blockades at different points. They beat a hasty retreat. Later, additional forces were rushed to Nawada from adjoining districts.

The state police headquarters directed Patna zonal inspector general S.M. Khopre, deputy inspector general (Magadh range) N.H. Khan and Nalanda superintendent of police Nishant Kumar Tiwary to camp in Nawada. Director-general of police Abhayanand was monitoring the situation.

Tiwary said patrolling was intensified in sensitive areas and RAF personnel took out a flag march in the town to instil confidence among the residents. “The situation is under control now,” he said.

The trouble erupted on Saturday after an altercation between a group of kanwariyas hailing from Saran and some residents at a roadside dhaba (eatery) along the NH-31 near Gondapur.

A report from Bettiah said that a police vehicle was set on fire by a mob in Bettiah, the district headquarters of West Champaran. Additional forces have been deployed as a precautionary measure, a senior police officer posted at the police headquarters said.