A day after violence broke out in Uttarakhand's Haldwani over demolition of an illegally-built madara, six people were reported killed on Friday.
SP (City) Harbans Singh told PTI that six rioters were killed. Meanwhile, seven people got injured in the violence.
CM Pushkar Dhami visited the regions were clashes broke out and said that it was a "planned" attack against the police.
Uttarakhand DGP Abhinav Kumar said stringent actions invoking National Security Act (NSA) will be taken against those who attacked police personnel and indulged in arson.
DG along with ADG (law and order) A.P. Anshuman visited the violence-hit region to assess the situation. "Action under the NSA will be taken against unruly elements who attacked police personnel, and indulged in arson and vandalism at the police station in Banbhoolpura," said DGP.
DGP Kumar also added that the situation has been brought under control. A curfew was declared in Haldwani soon after the violence broke out.
Efforts are on to bring back normalcy in the town within the next 24 hours, said Kumar.
Over 1,000 police personnel were deployed after the clashes in the area. According to officials, stones were pelted at them from rooftops.
At least some of the alleged rioters killed in the violence had gunshot wounds.
Nainital District Magistrate Vandana Singh confirmed that orders to open fire, with instructions to shoot the rioters in the leg, were issued when the police station was attacked by the mob.
Meanwhile, BJP MPs said the Haldwani violence appeared to be a "conspiracy" and warranted strict action against the guilty.
"Our women police personnel were brutally thrashed. They even tried to throw a journalist into the flames. It was an attempt to disrupt the atmosphere of social amity and peace for which Uttarakhand is known," Dhami told reporters.
The police had arrested four people by Friday noon in connection with the incident. Around 20 people seem to have been involved in the violence, said officials.
