4 India lawmakers arrested for deadly violence

LUCKNOW, India (AP) — Police said Saturday that they have arrested four state opposition lawmakers for allegedly inciting clashes between Hindus and Muslims that killed 48 people early this month in northern India.

The four, who are members of the Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party and the regional Bahujan Samaj Party, have been charged with delivering hate-filled speeches against Muslims in Uttar Pradesh state, senior police officer R.K. Vishwakarma said. The arrests were made Friday and Saturday.

Both sides have blamed the other for starting the violence in which guns, swords, stones or knives were used in the killings, police officer Arun Kumar said.

The clashes were sparked in and around the town of Muzaffarnagar by the killing of three villagers who had objected when a young woman was being harassed.