At least 22 people have died in the northern Indian city of Mathura after police removed members of a sect from a park they had been occupying.

Two police officers were among the dead, Sky News reported. 

"We had gone to clear the area but were fired upon by the miscreants. Two of our men died," a senior police officer, Hari Ram Sharma, said.

Mr Sharma said police had responded with live fire.

Another police officer, Daljit Chaudhary, said that 100 people attacked the officers, including some who opened fire from treetops. 

Mr Chaudhary added that gas cylinders, used by the protesters for cooking, exploded and ignited a fire that killed 11 people.

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

More than 100 activists were injured in the confrontation, while around 200 were arrested. 

The area was later sealed off with the situation described as tense but under control.

Source: MENA