New Delhi, Dec 03: Communal violence claimed 977 lives in Gujarat last year in 134 incidents, the Rajya Sabha was informed today. Minister of state for home I D Swami said in a written answer that 12 people were killed in the state this year when 112 incidents took place between January-October, 2003.

He said the state government has informed that the causative factors responsible for the incidents during the current year were of trivial nature like altercation between members of two communities over playing of cricket near a temple, escalation of personal disputes, people misled by rumours spread by anti-social elements on arrest of criminals, etc.

The minister said the state government has reported that various measures were being taken by it to maintain peace and harmony. Bureau Report