Bengaluru: Karnataka has reportedly bagged the second place in the number of communal and political riots taking place in Indian States according to the latest crime data for the country.

The crime data record from the National Crime Records Bureau’s data for 2015 shows that Haryana topping the list with 201 cases of communal riots in 2015. Karnataka trailed with 163 cases. Karnataka also reported the second highest number of political riots at 166 cases.

Former director of Institute of Social and Economic Change, Bengaluru, R S Deshpande said that even though there were more riots than before, now even small incidents are being reported with caste and community colour. “There has been a change in the definition of communal riots. Even if a lingayat and a vokkaliga fight for financial reasons, their community will be drawn into it,” he said.

The Graden City, Bengaluru reportedly stands second based on its highest number of riots at 373 cases. In arson cases, Bengaluru stands third with 99 reported cases. The city recorded the maximum number of cases of crimes against Dalits (SCs), 127 cases.

Minister for Social Welfare H Anjaneya, a Dalit, said that the value of land given to Scheduled Castes through land committees between 1972 and 75 has increased over the years. Crimes against SCs have increased in a bid to reclaim these government grants. “These are landless people. They own one to three acres of land. There are atrocities against them to reclaim it from them as the land value has increased manifold of late,” he said.