Two killed in India protests against Prophet comments: police

Indian police shot dead two demonstrators on Friday during street protests around the country sparked by a ruling party official's remarks about the Prophet Mohammed, an officer told AFP Saturday.

In India and neighbouring countries, Muslims took to the streets in huge numbers after Friday prayers to condemn the remarks made by a spokeswoman for Prime Minister's party, with police firing on a crowd in the eastern Indian city of Ranchi.

"Police were forced to open fire to disperse protesters... resulting in the death of two," a police officer in Ranchi told AFP.

Officers said that the crowd had defied their orders not to march from a mosque to a market and had thrown broken bottles and stones when police attempted to disperse the rally with a baton charge.

Authorities cut internet connections in the city and imposed a curfew, with local resident Shabnam Ara telling AFP the atmosphere remained tense on Saturday.

"We are praying for peace and harmony," she said.

DIPLOMATIC STORM

Sharma's remarks have embroiled India in a diplomatic storm, with the governments of nearly 20 countries calling in Indian envoys for an explanation.

Since coming to power nationally in 2014, Modi's government and the BJP have been accused of championing discriminatory policies towards followers of the Islamic faith.

His government proposed a controversial law that granted citizenship to refugees in India, but not if they are Muslim, while state BJP governments have passed laws making it harder for Muslims to marry outside their religion.

The foreign ministry last week rebuked US officials for what India termed "ill-informed" and "biased" comments made during the release of a religious freedom report that accused Indian officials of supporting attacks on minority worshippers.

Sharma's comments sent the BJP into damage control, with the party suspending her from its ranks and issuing a statement saying it respected all religions.

Friday saw the biggest South Asian street rallies yet in response to the remarks, with police estimating more than 100,000 people mobilised across Bangladesh after midday prayers.

Another 5,000 people took to the streets in the Pakistani city of Lahore demanding that their government take stronger action against India over the comments.