Nine officials were on Friday suspended and a magisterial probe ordered into the August 12 communal clashes in Kishtwar district of Jammu and Kashmir in which two people were killed.

"We have suspended nine government officials for inciting public by their provocative statements and triggering communal clashes in the Himalayan town on August 12," Sudarshan Sharma, Deputy Commissioner, Kishtwar said on Friday.

A magisterial probe has also been ordered into the clashes and those found guilty would be severely punished, he added.

The action against the officials has been initiated on the basis of a report submitted by the Superintendent of Police alleging them for giving provocative speeches in public and inciting communal trouble in the town.

The officials suspended have been identified as Hafiza, Rajesh Kumar Parihar, Aijaz Ahmed, Mushtaq Ahmed, Chander Shekhar, Mansoor Shah, Imtiyaz Ahmed, Deepak Kumar and Aijaz Akhter.

It may be recalled that two people were killed and 30 others injured, besides 36 buildings including shops and 13 vehicles were put on fire during the clashes.

As a result, curfew was imposed in the town and shoot and sight orders were issued by the authorities.