DHAKA: Hundreds of troops have been deployed to quell deadly riots and clashes between Hindus and Muslims sparked by the killing of three villagers who had objected when a young woman was being harassed in northern India.

Police say the clashes in Kawal village left nine people dead, including an Indian broadcast journalist and a police photographer.

Another 50 people were injured.

The clashes broke out on Saturday after tens of thousands of Hindu farmers called for justice in the August 27 killing of three men who had spoken out when a woman was being verbally harassed.

The violence spread to neighbouring villages in Muzaffarnagar district of Uttar Pradesh.

The head of the state’s home ministry, RM Srivastava, says a curfew has been imposed and soldiers are searching homes for weapons on Sunday, reports The Straits Times.

BDST: 1641 HRS, SEPT 08, 2013
RoR/RK