Communal Riot Meaning

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Communal riot is a form of collective violence that involves clashes between groups belonging to different religious, ethnic, linguistic, or regional identities.

In India, communal violence is often associated with Hindu-Muslim conflicts, but it can also involve other groups such as Sikhs, Christians, Buddhists, Dalits and tribals.

The Indian Penal Code (IPC) defines communal violence as any act that promotes enmity between different groups on grounds of religion, race, place of birth, residence, language, etc. and does acts prejudicial to the maintenance of harmony.

Meaning of Communal Riot

A riot is when a group of people disrupts the peace through violence. It becomes a communal riot when this violence involves specific communities targeting others. In the Indian context, communal riots typically involve Hindus and Muslims.

These riots often start with seemingly small incidents but quickly escalate, suggesting some level of planning. Even if the initial incident is spontaneous, the subsequent actions are usually not. The root cause of these riots likely lies in long-standing tensions that have kept communal violence alive for many years.

Agencies Involved in Managing a Communal Riot

The police play a central role in handling communal situations. Other agencies that also have important roles in planning and carrying out response operations include intelligence agencies, armed police units (like PAC) and the army. These are support agencies.

Additionally, there are other support agencies such as the Department of Health, the Department of Food & Civil Supplies, the Directorate of Information & Public Relations and the Department of Revenue (Scarcity).

Why do Riots Occur?

Identifying the true cause of communal violence can be a complex issue because different factors can emerge at various investigation levels. It’s helpful to analyse causality at three levels.

Primary Cause

These are the incidents that directly trigger violence. They can be spontaneous, like teasing someone from another community or planned, like playing music near a mosque during prayer.

Often, the motive behind these incidents is to send a message to the opposing community regarding local leadership disputes, asserting rights over resources like a riverbank, or strengthening one’s own community in preparation for an upcoming election.

Secondary Cause

This level relates to issues like leadership disputes, resource conflicts, or upcoming elections that manifest as a result of the primary causes. Primary and secondary causes together are considered immediate or proximate causes.

Tertiary Cause

This level delves into the broader social structure and historical forces that contribute to communal riots. This may go beyond the scope of a specific management plan but is essential for those handling riots as it helps them see patterns in seemingly isolated events happening in different places and times.

For instance, a riot can be seen as arising from majority resentment against a minority’s perceived disloyalty to the country, or as a result of provocation by militant Hindu nationalists against a harassed minority. In both cases, the police, as the primary agency for managing communal riots, would likely be responsible for implementing remedial measures.

However, it’s important to note that interpreting a riot in a certain way, such as being driven by one community’s outrage at disloyalty by another, can complicate the prosecution of the perpetrators, even if their identities are known.

Communal Roits in IPC

Section 146 to 148 of the Indian Penal Code deals with communal rioting.

Section 146: Rioting

Whenever force or violence is used by an unlawful assembly, or by any member thereof, in prosecution of the common object of such assembly, every member of such assembly is guilty of the offence of rioting.

Section 147: Punishment for Rioting

  • This section outlines the punishment for those found guilty of rioting.
  • The punishment can include imprisonment for up to two years, a fine, or both.

Section 148 – Rioting Armed with Deadly Weapon

  • Section 148 deals with instances of rioting where individuals are armed with deadly weapons or anything that can be used as a dangerous weapon.
  • Those guilty of rioting in such a manner can face imprisonment for up to three years, a fine, or both.

Classification under CrPC (Code of Criminal Procedure)

  • These offences are categorised as cognisable, which means that the police can arrest without a warrant as per Code of Criminal Procedure.
  • Bail may be granted and the trial can be conducted by a Magistrate.

Composition under CrPC

These offences are not considered compoundable, meaning that the victim cannot withdraw the case after it has been registered with the police.

Conclusion

Communal riots are a distressing social issue characterised by violence between different communities. These conflicts often erupt due to a range of factors, from immediate triggers to deeper historical and social tensions. The Indian Penal Code provides legal provisions to address such incidents and punish those responsible.

To prevent and manage communal riots effectively, it is essential to analyse their root causes, promote community harmony and ensure swift and fair legal proceedings. Furthermore, fostering understanding and tolerance among diverse groups is crucial for long-term peace and harmony in society, emphasising the need for both legal measures and social awareness efforts to combat communal violence.


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