Difference Between Riot, Affray and Assault
| Riot | Affray | Assault |
| 1. Riot is a violent outburst of unlawful assembly of the people. | Affray is a fight in a public place, especially one that disturbs people. | Assault is a violent and sudden attack on enemy in private. |
| Place where it may be committed | ||
| 2. Riot may be commit ted anywhere, either in the public or in a private place. | Affray can be committed only in public places. | Assault may be committed in any place, public or private. |
| Number of persons required to commit the offence | ||
| 3. Riot must be committed by five or more persons. | Affray is committed by two or more persons. | Assault may be committed by one or more. |
| 4. In riot there must be common object and it must be one of the five mentioned in Section 141 of the Code. | In affray, there may be or may not be common object. | In assault, there may be or may not be common object. |
| 5. Riot is an offence against public peace with force or violence. | Affray is an offence against the public peace. | Assault is an offence against the person of the individual. |
| 6. Riot is generally premeditated. | Affray may be sudden and unpremeditated. | Assault may be sudden and unpremeditated. |
| 7. In rioting every member of the unlawful assembly is punishable for rioting, although some of them may not have personally used force or violence. | In affray, the persons who actually engaged in an affray are liable for punishment. | In assault, the person(s) assaulted only is/are punished. |
| Punishment (ordinarily) | ||
| 8. For riot, the ordinary punishment is imprisonment of either description for two years or fine or both (Sec. 147 of the Code) | For affray, the ordinary punishment is imprisonment of either description for one month or fine up to Rs. 100 or both (Sec. 160 of the Code). | For assault, the ordinary punishment is imprisonment of either description for three months or fine up to Rs. 500 or both (Sec. 352 of the Code) |
