Indian political rivals’ clashes kill two

Police in eastern India say supporters of rival political parties have exchanged gunfire and hurled crude bombs at each other, killing at least two people and injuring 13.

Police officer Abhitjit Bandyopadhyay says the protesters torched some police vehicles on Wednesday when police tried to separate the warring groups in Amdanga, a small town in West Bengal state.

At least nine people have been killed this week in clashes in the state triggered by opposition parties, mainly the Communist Party of India (Marxist) and Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party, contesting the victory of the ruling Trinamool Congress in recent local municipal elections, reports the AP.

India's top court has rejected petitions by the opposition groups challenging the governing party's victory.