New Delhi, Dec.9 (ANI): The Government on Wednesday released the number of communal incidents in the country in the last five years, which stated 2008 recording maximum number of 943 incidents in the country.

There were 677 incidents in (2004), 779 (in 2005), 698 (in 2006), 761 (in 2007), and 943 (in 2008) as per government data released State wise for last five years.

"To maintain communal harmony in the country, the Central Government assists the State Governments/ Union Territory Administrations in a variety of ways like sharing of intelligence, sending alert messages, sending Central para-military Forces to the concerned State Governments on specific request including the composite Rapid Action Force created specially to deal with communal situations, and in the modernization of the State Police Forces. In addition, the Union Government sends advisories in this regard from time to time. The Central Government has also circulated revised Guidelines to promote communal harmony, to the States and Union Territories in the month of June, 2008," stated Union Minister of State for Home Affairs Ajay Maken in written reply to a question in the Rajya Sabha on Wednesday.

"Further, the Central Government has introduced a Bill titled 'The Communal Violence (Prevention, Control and Rehabilitation of Victims) Bill, 2005' in the Rajya Sabha to address various aspects of the issue of communal violence," added the reply. (ANI)