The Indian army on Sunday deployed in the district in the northern state of Uttar Pradesh where 19 people have been killed and more than 40 injured in riots between Hindus and Muslims.
The killing of three Hindus on August 27 sparked tensions between the two communities in Muzaffarnagar district. The three youths had reportedly tried to intervene in an incident in which a woman was being harassed.
Hundreds of troops, paramilitary forces and police fanned out in flashpoints across the district, with a strong presence in areas where Muslims are in the minority.
A curfew has also been imposed in the key town, known also as Muzaffarnagar, and several rural pockets.
The district's home secretary, Kamal Saxena, said 11 people were killed on Saturday and eight on Sunday. More than 50 people have been arrested, he said.
A television reporter and police photographer were among the dead, media reports said. News channel NDTV said women and children were among those injured in the clashes, in which stones, bricks, knives and guns were used.
The army carried out door-to-door searches for weapons and marched through the town.
A bus carrying people to a meeting of elders from the two communities aimed at resolving the tension was pelted with stones on Saturday sparking the riots, the IANS news agency reported.
Saxena urged the communities to disregard rumours and said a video being circulated via online social networks was not related to the incident.
"These are mischievous attempts to create discord among the communities," he said.
About 18 per cent of the inhabitants of Uttar Pradesh are Muslim.
Federal Home Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde on Saturday said communal violence was on a rise in the predominantly Hindu country. He said 451 incidents reported in the first eight months of this year, compared to 410 for all of 2012.
Shinde said the government expected tensions to heighten in the run-up to general elections scheduled for next year and state governments had been asked to stay alert.
Indian army deploys after Muslim-Hindu riots leave 19 dead
The Indian army on Sunday deployed in the district in the northern state of Uttar Pradesh where 19 people have been killed and more than 40 injured in riots between Hindus and Muslims.
The killing of three Hindus on August 27 sparked tensions between the two communities in Muzaffarnagar district. The three youths had reportedly tried to intervene in an incident in which a woman was being harassed.
Hundreds of troops, paramilitary forces and police fanned out in flashpoints across the district, with a strong presence in areas where Muslims are in the minority.
A curfew has also been imposed in the key town, known also as Muzaffarnagar, and several rural pockets.
The district's home secretary, Kamal Saxena, said 11 people were killed on Saturday and eight on Sunday. More than 50 people have been arrested, he said.
A television reporter and police photographer were among the dead, media reports said. News channel NDTV said women and children were among those injured in the clashes, in which stones, bricks, knives and guns were used.
The army carried out door-to-door searches for weapons and marched through the town.
A bus carrying people to a meeting of elders from the two communities aimed at resolving the tension was pelted with stones on Saturday sparking the riots, the IANS news agency reported.
Saxena urged the communities to disregard rumours and said a video being circulated via online social networks was not related to the incident.
"These are mischievous attempts to create discord among the communities," he said.
About 18 per cent of the inhabitants of Uttar Pradesh are Muslim.
Federal Home Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde on Saturday said communal violence was on a rise in the predominantly Hindu country. He said 451 incidents reported in the first eight months of this year, compared to 410 for all of 2012.
Shinde said the government expected tensions to heighten in the run-up to general elections scheduled for next year and state governments had been asked to stay alert.
Would you like to comment on this article?
Register (it's quick and free) or sign in now.
Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.
Trending
Latest Videos