Communal clashes down by 19 percent in 2014: Minister

The number of communal clashes in India went down from 694 in 2013 to 561 this year, a drop of 19 percent, parliament was informed Wednesday.

"As per available information, 694 communal incidents were reported during January-October 2013, while 561 were reported during January-October 2014," Minister of State for Home Affairs Kiren Rijiju said in a written reply in the Rajya Sabha.

"There has been a decline of 19 percent in communal incidents," he said.

Though police and public order are state subjects, the central government assists the states and union territories by sharing intelligence inputs, sending alerts, providing central armed police forces to deal with communal situations, Rijiju said.

"In addition, advisories are also sent from time to time on important developments having bearing on communal harmony," he said.

"The requests received from states and other quarters to ban any organisation for its alleged activities prejudicial to the security of the country are carefully examined before taking any final view in the matter," he added.