Question : Riots and Communal Violence

(a) whether incidents of riots/communal violence are on the rise in the country and if so, the reasons therefor;

(b) the total number of riots/communal violence reported, persons killed/injured, damages to property, guilty arrested and the action taken against them separately during each of the last three years and the current year, State-wise including Maharashtra;

(c) whether the Government has assisted the States to control the violence and initiate action against the organizations/individuals who indulged in such violence and if so, the details thereof;

(d) whether the Government has directed the police departments to take the strongest action in case of riots/communal violence and desecration of religious places and if so, the details thereof; and

(e) the other corrective steps taken by the Government to check the recurrence of such cases in future?

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HOME AFFAIRS
(SHRI HANSRAJ GANGARAM AHIR)

(a) to (c) As per the available information, the State-wise details of communal incidents, persons killed/injured therein during 2015, 2016 and 2017 is enclosed at Annexure-I.
“Public Order” and “Police” are State subjects as per the provisions of the Constitution of India. The responsibilities of maintaining law and order, including investigation, registration/prosecution of crimes, conviction of accused, protection of life and property etc. and maintaining relevant data rest



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primarily with the respective State Governments. The details regarding persons arrested/convicted, action taken against them, organizations involved, damages to property etc. are not maintained centrally.
(d) to (e) In order to maintain communal harmony in the country, the Central Government assists the State Governments/Union Territory Administrations in a variety of ways like sharing of intelligence, sending alert messages, advisories etc. from time to time on important developments having bearing on communal harmony. The Central Government on the requests of the States/Union Territories, sends Central Armed Police Forces, including the composite Rapid Action Force, created specially to deal with communal situation.

The Central Government has issued the Communal Harmony Guidelines in 2008, which inter-alia lay down standard operating procedures to be put in place to deal with the situations arising out of communal violence. These guidelines are aimed to maintain due vigilance, careful planning and preparatory measures which may prevent and pre-empt many possible incidents of communal violence. These guidelines are reiterated while sending advisories from time to time, particularly prior to various religious festivals, with the objective of immediate sensitization.




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