Communal violence claimed 278 lives in last 3 years, says Govt

Minister of State for Home Hansraj Ahir on Wednesday informed the Rajya Sabha that a total of 278 people were killed in 2,098 communal incidents in different parts of the country in last three years.

Uttar Pradesh accounted for the highest number with 77 in 450 communal incidents in 2014-16, followed by Maharashtra where 32 people were killed in 270 such incidents.

Bihar accounted for 197 incidents of communal violence in which 29 people were killed while 26 people lost their lives in 279 incidents in Karnataka.

24 people were killed in 200 communal incidents in Rajasthan and 21 people lost their lives in 182 such incidents in Gujarat between 2014 and 2016 said Ahir. 

(With PTI inputs)