At least 12 people were killed and more than 40 injured in riots between members of two communities in Muzaffarnagar, officials said on Sunday.
A freelance television journalist and a Police photographer were among those killed in Muzaffarnagar district in the state of Uttar Pradesh.
Curfew has been imposed and the army called in to restore calm, Muzaffarnagar district magistrate Kaushal Raj Sharma said.
“Twelve people have been killed in the clashes and the toll is expected to rise as some people are missing. Police are searching for them,” Sharma said.
“The situation is tense in some rural areas but under control. The army is carrying out area domination exercises,” he said.
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav appealed for calm.
“Strict action will be taken against troublemakers,” he said in state capital Lucknow.
At least 30 people were arrested Saturday night, NDTV news channel quoted Police spokesman Arun Kumar as saying.