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Two persons were killed in an exchange of fire between Hindus and Muslims over the issue of cow slaughter in the communally sensitive Mathura district in Uttar Pradesh on Sunday afternoon.
According to delayed information reaching the state capital Lucknow, the clash took place between the residents of Kosi Kalan village in Mathura district and their traditional Muslim adversaries living across the state border in Haryana.
"Ironically both sides have common roots in the Mewati Jat community and even follow identical customs, but are often at loggerheads over their religious differences," Agra Divisional Commissioner S N Jha told rediff.com.
He said, "In July, there was a serious confrontation between the two groups, but without any casualty."
However, what began as a heated exchange of words over the killing of a cow earlier on Sunday turned into a day-long bloody war that left one dead on either side.
Jha, however, described the situation as 'well under control now'.
Provisional Armed Constabulary (PAC) contingents had been deployed in both the affected villages as well as along the UP-Haryana border to prevent any recurrence of violence, he added.
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