Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi appealed for peace on Wednesday after a mass rally in his home state turned violent, with overnight rioting and arson, AFP reports.
Thousands of paramilitary troops have been sent to the western state of Gujarat to contain the violence, which broke out after an estimated half a million people rallied to demand favorable treatment for their caste.
One police officer who asked not to be named said two protesters had died in police firing on Tuesday, although this could not immediately be confirmed.