Riot police have stepped up and imposed curfew in Jharkhand's Jamshedpur after two gangs broke up last night for allegedly vandalizing the Ram Navami flag.

A mob pelted stones at each other and set fire to two shops and a rickshaw in Shastrinagar. The police had to fire tear gas to disperse them.

The situation is now under control, city police chief Prabhat Kumar told news agency ANI. "Those who gathered were sent home. The army was deployed across the region, the RAF (Rapid Action Force) was deployed," he said. Riot police conducted a flag march in the area this morning.

East Singhbhum Deputy Commissioner Vijaya Jadhav said that some people have been arrested. "We are investigating the situation. Discussions are being held with the peace committee and other stakeholders to restore normalcy," she said.

She said that some anti-social people are trying to disturb the peace and are seeking support from the citizens. He said in a statement, "We have deployed a full force of police, rapid response teams, a judge, rapid response officers and other riot control elements to maintain law and order."

Ms. Jadhav urged people not to believe rumours. “People are told not to believe rumours. If they receive offensive or abusive messages, please report it to the police,” she added.

The area has been under tension since Saturday when members of a local union found defaced Ram Navami flags, police said. This was followed by protests demanding the immediate arrest of the perpetrators. After last night's outbreak, the police force has been deployed in the area.