Lok Sabha Question No. 4277 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2022-03-29
Subject: Riots and Lynchings Incidents
Ministry: HOME AFFAIRS
Asked by: Shashi Tharoor, Chandra Prakash Joshi

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF HOME AFFAIRS

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 4277

TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 29 TH  MARCH, 2022/CHAITRA 8, 1944 (SAKA) RIOTS AND LYNCHINGS INCIDENTS

4277. DR. SHASHI THAROOR :

SHRI CHANDRA PRAKASH JOSHI :

Will the Minister of HOME AFFAIRS be pleased to state:

- (a)  whether  the  Government  has  maintained  a  record  of  the  riots  and lynchings that have taken place in the country in recent years;
- (b) if not, the reasons therefor;
- (c) if so, the details of number of incidents of rioting and lynching that have taken place in India in the last five years, particularly Rajasthan;
- (d) the number of such incidents that are recorded as being of a communal nature and the number of accused convicted for mob lynching incidents in Rajasthan;
- (e)  whether  the  Government  is  taking  specific  measures,  using  new  or existing  legislation,  to  curb  the  growing  trend  in  lynching  and  rioting incidents;
- (f) if so, the details thereof; and
- (g) if not, the reasons therefor?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HOME AFFAIRS (SHRI NITYANAND RAI)

(a) to (g): In  the  'Crime  in  India'  report,  National  Crime  Records  Bureau (NCRB)  publishes  crime  data  from  all  the  States/Union  Territories  under various crime heads which are defined under the Indian Penal Code and Special & Local Laws. No separate data for mob lynching is maintained by NCRB.

## L.S.US.Q.NO. 4277 FOR 29.03.2022

Details of cases registered under crime head 'Rioting' and under its subhead 'Communal/Religious' during the year 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019 & 2020 are given below in table:

| Year   | Rajasthan   | Rajasthan           | India   | India               |
|--------|-------------|---------------------|---------|---------------------|
|        | Rioting     | Communal/ Religious | Rioting | Communal/ Religious |
| 2016   | 293         | 0                   | 61974   | 869                 |
| 2017   | 345         | 16                  | 58880   | 723                 |
| 2018   | 392         | 18                  | 57828   | 512                 |
| 2019   | 392         | 18                  | 45985   | 438                 |
| 2020   | 342         | 03                  | 51606   | 857                 |

It  is  the  intention  of  the  Government  to  comprehensively  review  the existing Criminal Laws and make them relevant to the contemporary law and order situation as well as to provide speedy justice to the vulnerable sections  of  the  society  and  create  a  legal  structure  which  is  citizencentric.  The  Department-related  Parliamentary  Standing  Committee  on Home Affairs, in its 146th Report dated 23.06.2010, had recommended that there is a need for a comprehensive review of the Criminal Justice System of the country. Earlier the Parliamentary Standing Committee in its 111th and  128th  Reports  had  also  stressed  upon  the  need  to  reform  and rationalize the criminal law of the country by introducing a comprehensive legislation in Parliament rather than bringing about piece-meal amendments  in  respective  Acts.  Government  is  committed  to  make comprehensive amendments to criminal laws in consultation with all the stakeholders.

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