The police and officials in Muzaffarnagar are trying to check the rising tension between Hindus and Muslims in this part of Western Uttar Pradesh, which was seared by communal riots in September in which nearly 60 people were killed. New clashes this week between two villages have led to four more deaths. Here are 10 big developments in this story:
Here are the 10 latest developments in this story
Three young Muslim men from the village of Huassainpur were killed on Wednesday evening by a mob from the neighbouring village of Muhammadpurraisingh, where Hindu Jats are in the majority.
The police says a dispute over land led to the fatal brawl, but Muslim villagers say young men from the community are being persecuted by Hindus and the police is supporting them. In a separate incident on Wednesday night, a Hindu woman was killed while she was passing by Hussainpur with her husband by a group of villagers who her husband claims were largely Muslims.
Muslim leaders from Hussainpur have called a panchayat meeting today to demand justice for the three men who died after being beaten.
The police says it's premature to describe this week's deaths as communal violence. "We were moving towards a state of peace, communal harmony and goodwill among all sections of people. But these incidents have halted that process," said the state's top police officer, Devraj Nagar, to NDTV.
That's what the state government, headed by Akhilesh Yadav, has also told the Supreme Court. A statement by the government has told the judges that this week's incidents "looks only (like) a law and order problem and (is) not communal in nature." (Muzaffarnagar violence: Uttar Pradesh Police admit lapses)
The Supreme Court is monitoring the government's efforts to rehabilitate thousands of people who fled their homes during September's riots and moved to refugee camps. The judges today said that they may send their own team to determine whether communal tension has spiralled in the area again.
September's riots were triggered when a young Muslim man was killed allegedly by Hindus for reportedly sexually harassing a woman, triggering a deadly retaliation that quickly spiralled into three days of riots.
Leaders from different political parties have been charged with instigating that violence through incendiary speeches that were delivered at public meetings.
Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav has blamed the opposition BJP for inciting September's riots, which have become an issue referred to repeatedly in speeches by politicians campaigning for the national elections.
The BJP denies the charges and blames Mr Yadav's government for adopting policies that are lopsided in favour of Muslim voters. They say as a result, Hindus in areas like Muzaffarnagar are insecure.
