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India squatters: At least 24 killed in Mathura eviction drive India squatters: At least 24 killed in Mathura eviction drive
(about 2 hours later)
At least 24 people have been killed and 40 others injured during clashes between the police and squatters in the northern Indian town of Mathura.At least 24 people have been killed and 40 others injured during clashes between the police and squatters in the northern Indian town of Mathura.
Clashes broke out on Thursday when police tried to evict the members of a religious sect who had been occupying a park illegally for two years. Clashes broke out on Thursday when police tried to evict the former members of a religious sect who had been occupying a park for two years.
Two senior police officers are among those killed.Two senior police officers are among those killed.
Akhilesh Yadav, the chief minister of Uttar Pradesh state, has ordered an inquiry into the violence.Akhilesh Yadav, the chief minister of Uttar Pradesh state, has ordered an inquiry into the violence.
The state's top police officer, Daljit Chaudhary, told the AFP news agency that about 3,000 people had gathered to prevent the police from retaking the park from the protesters. "At 5pm on Thursday, a police team visited the Jawahar Bagh park for a recce following a court order to evict the squatters," state police chief Javed Ahmed told a news conference.
He said his colleagues retaliated after some of the protesters fired at them. "The protesters fired at the policemen without any warning or provocation. They also pelted the team with stones. Two senior police officers were killed in the attack."
Mr Chaudhary added that some people died in police firing, but at least 11 were killed in a blaze caused by cooking gas cylinders. He said more police teams were sent to the scene to bring the situation under control, and his colleagues retaliated after some of the protesters attacked them.
More than 300 people have been arrested and the situation is under control. Police have recovered a large number of firearms from the park, he said. Mr Ahmed added that some of the protesters had died from bullet and other injuries sustained during the clash, but at least 11 were killed in a blaze caused by cooking gas cylinders.
The protesters, who earlier followed a religious guru, recently started calling themselves "revolutionaries" and have called for changes to India's constitution. More than 300 people have been arrested and the situation has been brought under control. Police have recovered a large number of firearms from the park, he said.
They want the authorities to abolish the post of prime minister and president and for 40 litres of petrol to be sold for 1 rupee (1 pence). Who are the squatters?
Members of the Azad Bharat Vidhik Vaicharik Kranti Satyagrahi (Free India Legal Ideas Revolutionary Protesters) have been occupying Mathura's largest public park Jawahar Bag for two years.
Reports say the group is headed by Ramvriksha Singh Yadav, but very little is known about him.
Members of the group earlier followed religious guru Baba Jai Gurudev, but since his death in 2012 some had started calling themselves "revolutionaries" and claimed to be followers of Indian independence hero Subhash Chandra Bose.
The group has been making radical demands such as declaring the Indian parliament and the posts of prime minister and president unconstitutional.
They also want the authorities to sell fuel at dirt-cheap prices. In their view 40 litres of petrol or 60 litres of diesel should cost just 1 rupee (about 1.5 cents; one penny).