India, Feb. 8 -- Nine police personnel were among the 24 people injured in a clash between two communities in Bihar's Madhepura district on Friday, a senior district police officer said on Saturday.

Police said the violence, which continued for nearly four hours, erupted after an altercation over a shopkeeper in Udakishunganj sub division insisting that a young man, his customer, pay cash for a sachet of gutka, or chewing tobacco, got out of hand.

Madhepura superintendent of police (SP) Sandeep Singh said the customer received support from some other people and thrashed the shopkeeper.

The shopkeeper fled from the spot to his village and was back with about 25 community members who started attacking anyone who stood in their way. Soon,...