[1]New Delhi: Union home minister Sushilkumar Shinde on Saturday admitted that incidents of communal violence have increased in the country and cautioned all states to remain alert and foil any attempt to disturb peace ahead of the general elections. “Communal violence incidents have increased since last year.
While 410 incidents occurred in the country last year, this year, till now, 451 incidents have taken place,” he told reporters here.
Shinde said all states have been 'alerted' in view of this and he has personally called up Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav and discussed the subject.
Cabinet secretary Ajit Seth had on Friday directed all states to firmly deal with incidents of communal violence and warned that communal polarisation may vitiate the country's social fabric ahead of general elections.
Six killed in UP violence
Lucknow: Six people, including a local journalist, were killed in fresh clashes between members of two communities in the Kanwal area of Muzaffarnagar district on Saturday. Over two dozen people have reportedly been injured in the violence.
Curfew has been imposed in the area and five companies each of the PAC and Rapid Action Force (RAF) have been deployed. Over three dozen people have been arrested in connection with violence. The state has announced a compensation of Rs 5 lakhs to the kin of the deceased persons and Rs 50,000 each to the injured. For the journalist's family to get Rs 10 lakh compensation.
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