116 killed in communal violence in India this year

New Delhi, Oct 21 (UNI) As many as 116 people were killed and 1,680 injured in 695 incidents of communal violence in the country this year till September, the Lok Sabha was informed today.

Of these, 39 people were killed and 126 injured during anti-Christian violence in Orissa. As many as 1,463 houses and 97 religious buildings, including churches, were also burnt or damaged.

The Orissa Government registered 740 cases and arrested 1,147 people in connection with these incidents, Minister of State for Home Shakeel Ahmad said in a written reply.

In Karnataka, about 100 people were injured and 16 religious places, including churches and prayer halls, were attacked or damaged during recent communal violence.

The Karnataka Government registered 77 cases and arrested 242 persons in connection with these incidents.

X X X PRISONS: The total number of prisoners in the country at the end of 2006 was 3,73,271 against a prison capacity of 2,63,911-- an overcrowding of 41.4 per cent.

This does put an extra burden on the available facilities in the jails, Mr Ahmad said.

UNI YJ BDP SSC1349