Seeking severe action against all those who incite communal tension or take part in violence, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh [Images] has advocated the setting up of special courts to try communal offences to speedily bring to book the guilty.

In his 15-point programme for the welfare of minorities, approved by the Cabinet, Dr Singh stressed that district and police officials of 'highest known efficiency' must be posted in areas identified as 'communally sensitive' and riot prone.

The prime minister stressed upon the need to provide immediate relief and adequate financial assistance to victims of communal riots. Under the prime minister's programme for minorities, details of which were made public on Monday, the Central plan scheme of area intensive and madrassa modernisation will be substantially strengthened and implemented effectively.

Dr Singh, who is on a nine-day visit to Brazil [Images] and Cuba, sought a certain percentage of physical and financial targets to be earmarked for poor beneficiaries from minority communities living in rural areas.