22 killed as police clash with squatters

At least 22 people have been reportedly killed after local police clashed with scores of squatters in India following operations to clear thousands of people from a public park.

Reports say violence erupted on Friday after protesters killed two police officers who were carrying out a court order which ruled that about 3,000 people living in the area be vacated from the vicinity.

Local police are also said to be investigating why the squatters had gathered in the park, and were looking into reports the group belonged to a local cult with reports confirming that around 200 members of the squatters’ group were also arrested.

Debashish Panda, the principal home secretary in Uttar Pradesh state, told Reuters police had initially responded to gunshots with tear gas and rubber bullets but then returned fire when the two police officers were killed.

Other officials said it was not immediately clear how the squatters died. The chief minister of Uttar Pradesh state, where Mathura is located, has ordered an inquiry.

Uttar Pradesh police chief Javeed Ahmed told reporters at the scene on Friday the group had set fire to their tents before abandoning the camp after the clashes.

“Subsequent searches by the police revealed that the activists of the group … had stored firearms and other weapons, including grenades, in the camp,” he said