Lucknow: At least nine persons, including a TV channel journalist, were killed and 34 injured on Saturday as fresh violence between members of two communities erupted in Muzaffarnagar, after which indefinite curfew was imposed and the army deployed to help maintain law and order. Tension running high since three persons were killed in Kawal village on August 27, Saturday burst into clashes in several parts of the district. IBN7 channel's part-time correspondent Rajesh Verma and a photographer hired by police, Israr, were among those killed in the violence.

Nine persons were killed--two in Muzaffarnagar town, three each in Bhopa police station area and Shapur area and one in Sikhera police station area, District Magistrate Kaushal Raj Sharma said. Curfew was imposed in Civil lines, Kotwali and Nai Mandi of Muzaffarnagar town. Officials in the district said at least 34 people were injured. Late Saturday night, a Home Department spokesman said in Lucknow that army personnel have been deployed in the riot-hit areas of the district to help the civil authorities maintain law and order.

The photographer was beaten to death at Sekeda village by a group of people returning from the meeting, police sources said. Saturday's incidents occurred as a meeting was being held in Naglabadhod in defiance of prohibitory orders to demand withdrawal of cases registered in connection with August 27 violence in Kanwal.

ADG (Law and Order) Arun Kumar said in Lucknow that senior police officers including the IG law and order and IGs of Meerut and Saharanpur were camping in the area. Five companies of PAC and as many of RAF and police have also been deployed in the troubled areas, sources said.