Communal violence always poses a ‘threat’ to the development and national integrity. Neither has it spared majorities nor minorities. According to a report released by the central government, both Muslims and Hindus were the victims in the riots this year.
The document showed that a total of 479 incidents of communal violence took place in the country including Muzaffarnagar communal clashes, till September 15, 2013. Uttar Pradesh recorded the highest number of casualties – 62, of whom 42 were Muslims and 20 were Hindus. There were 93 riots in the state in the first nine months of this year. Around 219 Muslims and 134 Hindus were injured in riots in Uttar Pradesh in 2013.
Bihar witnessed 40 communal disturbances and 25 incidents of tension-like situation in 2013. Nine were killed in the riots, of whom five were Hindus and four were Muslims. Among the injured in the state, 123 were Hindus and 66 were Muslims.
Gujarat recorded 54 riots-like situation and 21 communal tensions in 2013 in which 6 people lost their lives of whom 3 each were Hindus and Muslims. Among the injured, 85 were Hindus, 57 were Muslims and 5 were policemen.
Similarly, Maharashtra witnessed 56 communal disturbances and 100 incidents of tension this year, in which three Hindus and seven Muslims were killed. Around 101 Hindus, 106 Muslims and 64 policemen were injured.
The document said that there were 640 incidents of communal disturbances in the country in 2012, in which 93 people were killed of whom 48 were
Muslims, 44 Hindus and one was policeman. A total of 2,067 people were injured in the riots of whom 1,010 were Hindus, 787 Muslims, 222 policemen and 48 others.
The highest number of casualties was reported from Uttar Pradesh where 39 people were killed in 117 incidents of communal disturbance in 2012, of whom 20 were Hindus and 19 Muslims.
Last year, Maharashtra recorded 94 riots and 208 incidents of tension in which 15 people were killed of whom nine were Muslims and six Hindus. Among the injured, 110 were Muslims, 97 Hindus, 44 policemen and 29 others.
There were 89 incidents of communal disturbance and 92 of tension in Madhya Pradesh in which 9 were killed of whom four were Hindus and five were Muslims.
In West Bengal, there were 23 cases of communal disturbance and 21 of tension last year in which eight Muslims and one Hindu were killed.
There were 20 riots and 30 incidents of tension in Bihar in which three Hindus were killed in 2012. Gujarat recorded 57 incidents of communal disturbance and 20 of tension last year in which four Hindus and one Muslim had lost their lives.