(Image source from: Who is the target of UP riots?})

Either Muslims or Hindus were targeted in Muzaffarnagar and Shamli districts in UP as reported by the Commissioner of Police Bhuvnesh Kumar. Minorities were targeted in the riot hit areas irrespective of the religion in which both Hindus and Muslims were hit and places of devotion were damaged.

Riots that erupted in the 94 villages of those two districts that faced the tragic incident in which 44 persons were killed and 41, 829 persons were displaced as per the affidavit given by the Central Government to the Apex Court.

The Commissioner said "In these incidents, people from both communities were killed and several people were injured. In these incidents, the families of such persons were targeted who were residing in those areas in limited numbers. Their houses, places of worships were subjected to arson, damage and demolition."

As a result the people of a religion in small number in a particular locality had to flee to take shelter with the people where large in number.

Although the Center’s affidavit shows that 44 persons were dead, UP Government reckons the death toll as 27- 24 in Muzaffarnagar and 3 in Shamli districts and announces an ex-gratia of Rs.10 lakhs to the kin of 27 families.  An amount of Rs.50000/- and 20,000/- to the wounded with major minor injuries.

AICC President Sonia Gandhi and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh visited the riot areas on Monday, met the victims of the riots and assured them that a punishments for the violence on the basis of religion will be enacted soon.

-SriJa