A total of 650 communal incidents have occurred till October this year, Lok Sabha was informed today.
Minister of State for Home Kiren Rijiju said 823 communal incidents took place in 2013 and 644 such incidents occurred in 2014.
"During January-October 2015, 650 communal incidents have occurred in the country," he said in written reply to a question.
Rijiju said the responsibility of maintaining law and order, registration and prosecution of crimes, including religion related offences, rests primarily with the respective state governments.
State governments are competent to deal with religion related offences, he said.
The minister said the central government assists the state governments in a variety of ways like sharing information, sending alert messages, sending central armed police forces to the state governments on specific requests.
In addition, the central government send advisories prior to various religious festivals, observations and on developments having bearing on communal harmony, he said.
