Findings: The main findings of the present study are as follows:

(a) Police behave partially during most riots. In all the riots discussed in this study, they did not act as a neutral law enforcement agency but more as a "Hindu" force.

(b) Perceptible discrimination was visible in the use of force, preventive arrests, enforcement of curfew, treatment of detained persons at police stations, reporting of facts and investigation, detection and prosecution of cases registered during riots. Muslims suffered in all the above mentioned cases.

(c) The perception by Hindus and Muslims of the police during communal strife is diametrically opposed. Hindus view policemen as their friends and protectors during communal riots. Muslims, by and large, consider policemen their enemies in similar situations.

(d) An average policemen does not shed his prejudices and pre-determined beliefs at the time of his entry into the force, and this is reflected in his bias against Muslims during communal violence.

(e) The expectations of the Indian society from an average policeman is communal. The policeman is believed to be a protector of the interests of his community.

(f) The inimical relationship between the police and the Muslims make them over-react in a confrontation like situation

Recommendations:

Communalism is a malaise which influences all sections of society, much more so when there is no tough and effective resistance from the state. Even those parts of the bureaucracy which are supposed to combat communalism are as much influenced by preconceived notions and prejudices as any other section of society. There is nothing unnatural about this. The different parts of the machinery of law enforcement hail from various sections of society. It should therefore not be surprising that even after joining government services they retain their parochial perceptions about communal riots or social tensions, which they have acquired and continue to acquire as members of society. This reality is no doubt more problematic in the case of the security forces, particularly the police.

To check the problem of communalisation in the police forces and to make them function in a manner that is perceived to be neutral by the general public, and more so by the minority communities, it is necessary that certain basic remedial measures be taken. First of all, the senior leadership of the Indian police should agree, that handling of communal riots is an area which requires a lot of introspection. They may absolve themselves from the allegations of partisan handling of these disturbances but the fact remains that the Indian police, as such does not enjoy the confidence of the minorities and as we have found in this study, in almost every incident of communal strife, it has been accused of displaying a pro-Hindu bias, not only by the Muslim leadership but also by the secular media, social activists and champions of human rights. This failing on the part of the Indian police makes it imperative that remedial measures should not only be drastic but should be taken without delay.

(There are) four major areas where basic changes are required. These are the recruitment policy for various levels in the police, training interventions, accountability of the police leadership and the involvement of the people in combating communalism.                                                                                                                 (Source: Combating Communal Conflicts by V.N. Rai)