Curfew was clamped Friday evening after four people were injured as two groups clashed over an "anti-Khalistan march" in this Punjab city, hurling stones at each other. Police opened fire in the air to bring the situation under control. The curfew will be enforced between 7 pm Friday and 6 am Saturday in Patiala district, authorities said. Essential services were exempted.

Hours later, police arrested Harish Singla, "working president" of a group called "Shiv Sena (Bal Thackeray)" for taking out the procession without permission and instigating violence. The clash took place outside the Kali Mata temple after Singla's group had begun the "Khalistan Murdabad March" from the nearby Arya Samaj Chowk. Some Sikh activists, including Nihangs, who had initially gathered at Dukh Niwaran Sahib Gurdwara, marched towards the temple, a few of them seen brandishing swords. Their procession too did not have permission from the authorities, officials said. Near the temple, the two groups came face to face and hurled stones at each other, police said.