By Mahesh Pandey BBC correspondent in Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh

Police come under a stone attack in Dhar

It is the second consecutive day Hindus have tried to enter the site, which Muslims also claim.

A hardline Hindu group had earlier called for a general strike in the district.

There were reports of sporadic incidents of violence from across the district during Wednesday's day-long strike.

Several injured

Local people said police opened fire when the Hindu mob tried to enter the disputed religious monument in an area called Bhojshala.

Police had fired in some other areas too, reports said.

About seven people are believed to have been injured.

The Hindu Jagran Manch group called the strike in protest at what it called police excesses against its supporters.

The group had urged its supporters to enter the disputed monument on Tuesday.

But they were stopped by the police and nearly 150 people were put under preventive arrest.

Police guarding the disputed site

Reports say the strike has disrupted normal life across the district.

Roads were blocked in several places.

Angry supporters of the group also damaged a number of vehicles.

Events in the district were also raised in the state assembly.

Both Hindus and Muslims claim the 11th century monument as their own.

Hindus say the place was a university dedicated to teaching ancient Sanskrit.

Muslims say the place belongs to them because it houses the remains of a holy ascetic.

According to a 1997 order, Muslims are allowed to offer prayers every Friday and Hindus are allowed to worship inside the complex once a year on a holy day.