Mumbai, June 3 (IANS): Veteran actress-politician Hema Malini, who represents Mathura constituency in the Lok Sabha and was criticised for posting on social media images from a film shoot while Mathura was engulfed by violence and tension, said she will be reaching the city at the earliest.

A violent confrontation between the police and encroachers caused disruption in Mathura after 24 persons, including two senior police officers, were killed in firing by encroachers.

"I am constantly in touch with authorities/ karyakartas in Mathura. I am on my way to Delhi and will reach Mathura at the earliest," Hema tweeted on Friday.

"I am a very sensitive person. I am deeply pained on the Mathura incident but law and order of Uttar Pradesh is the core issue. Let's not divert," added the 67-year-old, stressing that while she will be reaching the spot soon, "but the presence of Mathura police is more important than mine".

On Thursday, a mob went on rampage after police took action against encroachment on a major part of a government land.

The toll in the Mathura violence rose to 24 on Friday as Superintendent of Police Mukul Dwivedi and others injured in Thursday's clash between police and encroachers died of their injuries, officials said.

And during this while, Hema Malini tweeted details of how convenient it has become to commute between mainland Mumbai and Madh Island, where she was shooting for the film "Ek Thi Rani". 

This caused Hema Malini to draw flak as many reacted negatively. The BJP MP then deleted the tweets, and expressed her concern for the situation in Mathura.

While 250 people have been detained for their involvement in the Mathura violence, the city continues to be tense even as heavy police reinforcements have been deployed in the violence hit region.