Sections of the troubled St Catherine communities of Gravel Heights and Tredegar Park remained tense yesterday following a fresh round of violence Sunday in which two abandoned houses were torched.

Residents of both communities have been living under the gun for the last three weeks after armed thugs aligned to the notorious Klansman and One Order gangs ordered them to leave their homes or face certain death.

Yesterday, the area was tense and resembled a ghost town in parts. Some residents refused to speak with the Observer while the ones who did warned the news team not to enter Gravel Heights.

"I wouldn't advise you to drive up there, things tense and anything can happen," said one man who asked not to be identified.

One woman just stared blankly when questioned about a planned march to be led by a political representative, while another walked away briskly as soon as she recognised the Observer logo on the vehicle.

According to Deputy Superintendent in charge of crime in the St Catherine North Police Division, Derrick Champagnie, the area was relatively calm for the last three weeks until Sunday's arson incident in Gravel Heights. He said both gangs were responsible for more than 20 murders and an equal number of shootings in recent weeks.

But despite the residents' fears, the police have vowed to sustain their presence in the community until the residents are able to move about freely and the criminal elements are flushed out.

"The police will not ease up in our efforts to bring calm to those communities. It will take a sustained drive. But we are in it for the long haul. A person's greatest investment is a house and if they are forced to leave their homes then where will they stay?" Champagnie asked.

The police yesterday walked through both communities to get a better understanding of the difficult terrain and will take up residence at certain spots known to be the lairs of the rival gangs, Champagnie said.

Police have identified the main culprits as James Hinds, also called 'Carpenter', and Donovan Brown, more popularly known as 'Negus' or 'Handsome'.

Champagnie said Brown and Hinds are the leaders of the rival gangs who have been running amok in both communities.

Hinds is said to lead the Klansman faction based in Tredegar Park, while Brown is the leader of the One Order faction based in Gravel Heights.

Police say Brown is the brother of Wayne 'Waynie Bones' Dawson, who was fatally shot by police during a shoot-out in Red Hills last May. Dawson was a leading member of the Klansman gang and was sentenced to life in prison for murder but managed to escape. He switched allegiance along with Brown after they fell out of grace with the leadership of the Klansman Gang.

Police say Hinds is slim and has a light complexion and bulging eyes. He is wanted for the murder of Roy Anthony, also called 'Guyah' at Lauriston, St Catherine in August last year and is known to frequent the Tredegar Park, Gravel Heights, Rivoli and Jones Avenue areas of St Catherine.

Hinds and Brown were once cronies, police say.