NEW DELHI, July 17 (Xinhua) -- At least nine persons were killed and a few others injured during a bloody clash between groups belonging to two different communities over a land dispute in India's northern state of Uttar Pradesh on Wednesday.

The incident occurred in Uttar Pradesh's Sonbhadra district, which is a remote area.

Confirming the incident involving nine deaths, Sonbhadra District Magistrate Ankit Aggarwal told Xinhua over phone that among the dead were six men and three women.

"Most of the dead belonged to the same community. The attackers came from outside the village where the incident occurred. There is said to be an involvement of a Village-Head in the violence, who is on the run and we are searching for him. We are told that gun shots were used in the clash between the two groups," added the district magistrate.

He also said that those injured were admitted in a local hospital.

Further details are awaited.