344 killed in communal violence in last 3 years

A total of 344 people have lost their lives in communal violence across the country in last three years, the Lok Sabha was informed on Tuesday.

Minister of State for Home Jitendra Singh said there were 2,300 incidents of communal violence in different parts of the country between 2009 and March this year in which 6,924 people were also injured.

He said 68 people lost their lives and 385 others were injured in 1,378 incidents of communal violence in Uttar Pradesh during the period when it was ruled by Bahujan Samaj Party led by Mayawati.

The Congress-Nationalist Congress Party-ruled Maharashtra saw 356 incidents of communal violence in the last three years in which 57 people were killed and 1,074 others received injuries, he said.

As many as 54 people lost their lives and 725 others were injured in 261 incidents of communal violence in Bharatiya Janata Party-ruled Karnataka in the said period, the Minister said.

Another BJP-ruled state Madhya Pradesh saw 313 incidents of communal violence in which 53 people were killed and 716 others received injuries, he said.

Rajasthan, ruled by the Congress, witnessed 489 incidents of communal violence in which 37 lives were lost and 135 others injured in last three years, he said.

There were 181 incidents of communal violence in BJP-governed Gujarat where 32 people were killed and 575 others were injured, according to the figures made available to the Lok Sabha.