CHANGSHA -- Nineteen people were injured in a riot between two villages in central China's Hunan Province in July, local government officials said on Wednesday.

The officials were refuting reports in overseas media that violence had occurred when the local government tried to suppress petitioners complaining about local incidents.

The disturbance between residents in Wenxing Town and Yanglinzhai Town took place in Xiangyin County from July 23 to 25.

The riot started at 9:00 p.m. on July 23 when Feng Shuwen and his wife from Wenxing Town got into a fight at a nightclub with Liu Sai and several other villagers from Yanglinzhai Town.

Feng was allegedly assaulted by Liu and his friends.

Later, despite attempts at mediation by the local government and police, villagers escalated the violence, which left 19 people injured, 10 stores destroyed and three police vehicles overturned.

Police were deployed on July 25 to patrol key sections of the county and maintain the order. The riot was brought under control that night and public order was restored soon after.

No violence occurred between villagers and the police, said an official with the county government.

"Some overseas media reported this incident as the 'government suppressing petitioners'. It is totally untrue," the official said.

Investigations into the incident are continuing.