India squatters: At least 24 killed in Mathura eviction drive

At least 24 people have been killed and 40 others injured during clashes between the police and squatters in the northern Indian town of Mathura.

Clashes broke out on Thursday when police tried to evict the former members of a religious sect who had been occupying a park for two years.

Two senior police officers are among those killed.

Akhilesh Yadav, the chief minister of Uttar Pradesh state, has ordered an inquiry into the violence.

"At 5pm on Thursday, a police team visited the Jawahar Bagh park for a recce following a court order to evict the squatters," state police chief Javed Ahmed told a news conference.

"The protesters fired at the policemen without any warning or provocation. They also pelted the team with stones. Two senior police officers were killed in the attack."