Ishtiyaq Ahmad
Early Times Report
srinagar, Mar 21: Jammu and Kashmir witnesses four to five cases of rioting daily, with 4400 such incidents reported in the last three years.
According to official details, 1714 cases of riots were reported in 2013 in Jammu and Kashmir. During 2014, and 2015, 1524 and 1157 such cases were reported respectively in the State. A total of 72,126 cases of riots were reported in India in 2013, with Bihar reporting the maximum 11,931 cases. Kerala was second, reporting 10,042 riot cases followed by Maharashtra 9,610, Karnataka 7,237 and West Bengal 6,142.
"We don't witnesses much rioting incidents like in other parts of India. But the rioting cases mostly get reported during protests especially in the Valley," a senior police official said.
A riot is a form of civil disorder commonly characterized by a group lashing out in a violent public disturbance against authority, property or people. Riots involve vandalism and the destruction of property, public or private.
"In Valley, most of the rioting cases that have been reported are vandalization of shops, cars, offices, during anti-India protests. A senior official said
He said some of the separatists are also facing charges of rioting. "These leaders have been found involved in destructing public and private property during protests in the Valley," the police official said.
However, he said barring few sectarian clashes, the Valley didn't witness any sectarian or communal riots over the years. One such was the Budgam incident, where the sectarian clashes broke out following dispute between two sects over construction of a village road. Then there were incidents of arson during clashes prompting authorities to impose restrictions.
During 2013 and 2014, one major incident of communal riots was reported in Kishtwar district of the Jammu region. The communal riots sparked in Kishtwar on Eid Day after two communities started targeting to each other. |
