Question : Communal Violence

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

(b) the total number of incidents of riots/communal violence reported, persons killed/injured, guilty arrested/convicted and the action taken against them along with the damages to property due to such incidents in the country, separately during the last three years and the current year,
State-wise;

(c) whether shortage of personnel in the Central Armed Police Forces has adversely impacted the efforts of the Government to maintain communal harmony in the country, and if so, the details thereof and the remedial
measures taken by the Government in this regard;

(d) whether the Government has issued advisories to the States to prevent, check and deal with such situation as well as to maintain communal harmony in the country and if so, the details thereof along with the follow up action taken by the States on such advisories; and

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

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HOME AFFAIRS
(SHRI KIREN RIJIJU)

(a) to (e): A Statement is laid on the Table of the House.
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STATEMENT REFFERRED TO IN REPLY TO THE LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO.*35 FOR 19.07.2016.

(a) to (c): As per the available information, the State-wise details of communal incidents, persons killed/injured therein during 2013, 2014, 2015 and 2016 (upto May) 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 primarily with the respective State Governments. The details regarding persons arrested/convicted, action taken against them, damages to property etc. are not maintained centrally.

In order to maintain communal harmony in the country, the Central Government, on receipt of specific request of the State Governments/Union Territory Administrations sends Central Armed Police Forces, including the Composite Rapid Action Force, to assist the State Governments/Union Territory Administrations.
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L.S.S.Q.NO.*35 FOR 19.07.2016
(d) to (e): Central Government has issued Guidelines in 2008, which inter-alia laid down standard operating procedures to be put in place to deal with the situations arising out of communal violence. Suitable advisories and alert messages for sharing information are sent to the respective States/Union Territory Administrations from time to time on important developments having bearing on communal harmony, particularly prior to various religious festivals, with the objective of immediate sensitization. These advisories issued by the Ministry of Home Affairs provide suitable intelligence to the States/Union Territory Administrations to check and deal with the communal situation.

In addition, the activities of all organisations having a bearing on the communal harmony in the country are under constant watch of law enforcement agencies, and requisite legal action is taken, wherever necessary.
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