Fourteen more people were killed in Uttar Pardesh's Muzaffarnagar district, taking the toll from two days of deadly communal clashes to 27.
The administration has issued shoot-at-sight orders, as the violence has spread to the rural areas. The violence spread to Baghpat district late last night, where one person was killed and four others injured.
The army staged the flag march and took over law and order responsibilities in the districts of Muzaffarnagar and Shamli. The army has also been deployed in Meerut.
ADG Arun Kumar, who is camping in Muzaffarnagar, said that an IG level officer has been stationed in each nearby districts of Meerut, Shamli, Baghpat, Saharanpur and Bijnore to avert any unwanted incident.
Violence broke out in the Kawal area of Muzaffarnagar on Saturday when members of a community returning from a panchayat meeting in Naglabadhod, three kilometres from Kawal, clashed with members of another community.
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According to reports, Rajiv Verma, who worked as a freelance television journalist, was reportedly caught in the crossfire at Meenakshi Chauraha. In Sekeda village, a photographer who the police had hired, was beaten to death.
Appealing for calm, Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav had earlier said: "People should not pay attention to the rumours and exercise restraint. Whosoever has done this will not be allowed to go scot free."
"All senior officials are looking into the matter in Muzaffarnagar. They have been ordered to take strict action wherever necessary. A curfew has been imposed. I would appeal to all the people there to maintain peace and do not trust or listen to any rumours," Yadav added.
The government has announced an ex-gratia of 15 lakh Rupees to the next of kin of the deceased scribe, while an ex gratia of Rupees ten lakh each has been announced for the kins of deceased civilians. Intensive patrolling by the security forces is on.
