NEW DELHI – India witnessed 10,399 incidents of communal violence from2004 to 2017 wherein 1,605 people were killed and 30,723 were injured, saidthe Ministry of Home Affairs in reply to an RTI query.

The maximum number of incidents took place in 2008 when 943 cases werereported. The year witnessed most lives–167–lost to violence and 2,354people were injured, said the year-wise data.

The minimum cases 580 — were reported in 2011, when 91 people were killedand 1,899 injured, according to the Ministry of Home Affairs’ (MHA) replyto Noida-based IT professional and RTI activist Amit Gupta, PTI hasreported.

Gupta had also sought to know the number of people arrested and convictedin the cases related to communal clashes, riots and fights during theperiod.

He, however, was informed that such data was maintained by stategovernments as ‘police’ and ‘public order’ were state subjects.According tothe RTI reply, in 2017, 822 cases of communal violence were reportedwherein 111 people were killed and 2,384 injured. While in 2016, 703 caseswere reported, 86 people were killed and 2,321 injured.

In 2015, 751 cases were reported, 97 people were killed and 2,264 injured,while in 2014, 644 cases of communal trouble came to the fore, 95 peoplewere killed and 1,921 injured.As many as 823 such cases were reported in2013, in which 133 people were killed and 2,269 injured, while in 2012,there were 668 cases of communal clashes, 94 people were killed and 2,117injured, the MHA said.

In 2010, 701 cases of communal clashes were reported, it said, adding 116people were killed and 2,138 injured.The year 2009 witnessed the secondmaximum 849– cases of communal clashes, with 125 people losing their livesand the maximum people injured in a single year 2,461, it stated.

In 2007, 761 cases were reported, 99 people were killed and 2,227 injured,while in 2006, there were 698 cases, 133 people were killed and 2,170injured.

In 2005, 779 cases were reported, 124 people were killed and 2,062 injured,while in 2004, there were 677 cases, 134 people lost their lives and 2,132injured, the data added.