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KEENE, N.H. (AP) — Local police in New Hampshire are setting up a task force to investigate violent disturbances near Keene's annual pumpkin festival that led to property damage, dozens of arrests and many injuries over the weekend.
The parties around Keene State College coincided with the Keene Pumpkin Festival on Saturday, when the community tries to set a world record of the largest number of carved and lighted jack-o-lanterns in one place.
Police donned riot gear and used tear gas in trying to control the crowds that afternoon, and Gov. Maggie Hassan called on the state's colleges and universities to "take swift action to hold students involved accountable."
The Keene police chief says those who committed crimes will be prosecuted and others who exercised "poor behavior" will be referred to their colleges.
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