13 communal clashes in Uttar Pradesh in 8 months: Akhilesh Yadav

LUCKNOW: Uttar Pradesh has witnessed 13 incidents of communal tension, including one in Muzaffarnagar, from March to October this year, Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav said in a written reply in the assembly today.

"From March to October 31, 13 incidents of communal tension took place in Sambhal, Bijnor, Bahraich, Etah, Shamli, Saharanpur, Meerut, Kannauj, Ghazipur, Unno, Pilibhit, Bagpat and Muzaffarnagar," Yadav said in his written reply to a question of BJP member Satish Mahana.

Directives were issued by the government to control such incidents and maintain communal harmony, he said.

In written reply to another question of BJP member Shyamdeo Roy Chowdhury regarding celebratory firing, Yadav said that in past three years (from 2011 till November 20, 2013) 164 such incidents were reported from across the state.

While 71 people were killed, 121 people were injured in separate incidents of celebratory firing during this period, he said, adding that celebratory firing has been completely banned and strict directives have been issued to check them.