Paramilitary forces have been deployed in Karauli, Rajasthan, as tension simmered in the town following an outrage between the two communities over disrespect shown to a religious book.

Prohibitory orders were promulgated late Tuesday night and 500 Rajasthan Armed Constubalary jawans deployed in the town on Wednesday morning to maintain law and order, Karauli Superintendent of Police V K Pandey told PTI over telephone.

Additional police contingents were on way from adjoining districts 'to meet any eventuality' even though the situation was at normal and the main markets open, he said.

He said 83 people had been arrested since June 15 when a group of Muslims indulged in brickbatting with activists of frontal Hindu organisations, alleging an insult to their religious book.

Trouble started on June 15 a mentally unstable man allegedly smeared dung and wrote something objectionable on a copy of the Quran at a tea stall, showing it to the people in the Muslim-dominated area.

There have been several sporadic bouts of violence and activists of the VHP, Bajrang Dal and BJP called a shutdown on Monday demanding that action be taken against those ionvolved in the violence.