23 dead in clashes as sect evicted in India

Clashes between Indian police and followers of a revolutionary sect have left at least 23 people dead after an operation to evict thousands of people from parkland erupted into violence, officials said on Friday.

Two police officers were among those killed in the overnight clashes during a move to expel around 3 000 sect followers who had illegally occupied public land in the city of Mathura for the last two years.

Police and other officials said they came under fire from armed members of the sect who positioned themselves on tree-tops and also hurled crude explosive devices at them.

A senior officer said police were forced to respond with live fire after two of their men were shot dead by followers of the sect, which is known as Swadhin Bharat Vidhik Satyagrah.