Dhule tension: Curfew in India town after clashes

A curfew is in force in the town of Dhule in India's Maharashtra state after police shot dead four people following Hindu-Muslim clashes.

Nearly 200 people, many of them policemen, were injured after violence broke out on Sunday evening.

The cause of the unrest was the non-payment of a hotel bill, reports said.

Police said the deaths occurred when they fired to disperse violent groups, and the situation is now under control. Political leaders have called for calm.

"Four people, including an 18-year-old boy, have died. The situation in Dhule is under control," Press Trust of India quoted senior police officer Deven Bharti as saying.

Maharashtra Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan and the state Home Minister RR Patil have appealed for calm in the area.