Intel Alert on Communal Issues

NEW DELHI: The government is keenly monitoring the development in Navi Mumbai, where local Hindu residents are protesting construction of a Dargah and a Mosque on a land reserved for play ground.

On December 1, around 200 residents under the umbrella of Airoli Rahiwasi Mandal staged a procession, demanding demolition of unauthorised construction, Central Intelligence agencies said.

Although there has been significant decline in communal incidents in 2014, as compared to 2013, flare-ups on small issues have the potential to trigger panic. An Intelligence report on communal situation has reported incidents having bearing on communal harmony in four states -- Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, Karnataka and Gujarat.

The report sent to Home Secretary Anil Goswami and National Security Council Secretariat on December 2 pointed out another incident in Nandurbar, Maharashtra, where protest was launched against a councillor on December 1, for making objectionable comment against a Sufi saint.

Agencies reported about the circulation of objectionable references to Mecca in social media in Dharwad, Karnataka. It added that Talikote town had closed down on December 2 and security establishment was monitoring the situation.

Similarly, Allahabad was rocked by communal tension on December 1, when a Hindu youth was shot at, for his alleged affair.

According to the intelligence report, many such incidents were handiwork of miscreants, triggered through trivial issues.

The Ministry of Home Affairs had earlier stated that 694 communal incidents were reported during January-October 2013, while 561 communal incidents were reported during January-October 2014, marking a decline of 19 per cent.

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