Bengaluru: The state has seen several incidents of communal clashes and these incidents have bagged Karnataka the ‘coveted’ second place in the country.

The state had bagged second place in country in communal riots even last year and this year too it has maintained this position. The position is shared by Maharashtra as well with same number of incidents and deaths. However, Uttar Pradesh stands first in the country in highest number of communal unrest.

The records show that during January to May this year, the state witness 40 communal clashes and four deaths. The state had witnessed as many as 105 incident and eight deaths last year.

Uttar Pradesh stands first with 61 incidents and 13 deaths. Madhya Pradesh stands third with 35 incidents and two deaths and Gujarat stands fourth with 16 incidents and three deaths.

Last year, Uttar Pradesh had witnessed 155 incidents and 22 deaths. Incidentally, Karnataka and Maharashtra had same number of communal clashes, ie- 105 while death in Maharashtra stood at 14. Madhya Pradesh had 92 registered communal clashes and nine deaths while Gujarat had 55 clashes and eight deaths.