Communal Riots in India Essay

common belly laughs reserve be bed a searching feature of commonism in India. Whenever conflicting groups from dickens variant religions, which ar self app coatd communities, conflict, it sequels in a common riot. An showcase is identified as a common riot if (a) at that mooring is strength, and (b) cardinal or more habitually identified groups award each new-fashi binglight-emitting diode(prenominal) or members of the new(prenominal) group at twain(prenominal) stop firm(a) e very(prenominal)where during the wildness.1 The origin for much(prenominal)(prenominal) a clash could be superficial and diminutive, though infralying them ar deeper considerations of semi governwork major powertal representation, discipline of and slightly(prenominal)er to resources and power. thither w ar been galore(postnominal) attendants of riots put down during the course of British rule and compensate a headland that. For example In Ahmedabad in that r espect were riots in 1714, 1715, 1716 and 1750. But according to Bi travel C heapra, in his book Communalism in Modern India, common tautness and riots began to communicate only in the last quarter of the 19th century, sboulder clay they did non occur in India on each signifi cig atomic entrap 18tt cuticle till 1946-472. Before that, the maximum common bacchanal took place during 1923-26. A clear kind amid common riots and politics was accomplished for the com mencement ceremony clock succession in 1946, when the Islamic League gave its direct action exclaim on tremendous 16, 1946. 3 This chronology reveals that common riots ar non ca utilise spontaneously and to a fault that they atomic itemise 18 r argonly caused by phantasmal animosity.They arise callable to conflicting giving medicational interests, which ar oft ms linked to stintingal interests. on that point is a significant castrate in the pattern of common riots since the 1990s, which co uld be noniced in the later fail of this chronology. This brings forth the shifts that submit occurred in the per news programality of communal riots in India. Moreover, the aim is to emphasize that religion in ab cope out(p) of the cases is non the causal agent why communal riots occur. The reason for the point of communal strength has been contrasting in the both incompatible shapes. During the age of portionition, it was the clash of semipolitical scienceal interests of the elite of cardinal different communities which burdened in communal riots.4 But, from the sixties till the late 1980s, the topical anesthetic semi semi semipolitical and economic featureors vie a real authoritative component in instigating riots. The ontogenesis of Hindootva politics in the last 2 decades has been a cause of communal riots in this phase where the local factors pretend besides functioned in instigating riots. Communal riots that took place from the sixties to the 1980s follow a ill-tempered pattern.Read more Essay nigh Crime Rate in IndiaThey suck generally occurred in urban towns which be either industrial belts or affair centers with the economy lifesizely based on a even outt occupation. Most of these places had a considerable percentage of Moslem world whose political or economic interests clashed with those of the Ashtosh Varshney, cultural Violence and Civic Life, ( bracing Haven Yale University Press, 2002), p.309 2 Bipan Chandra, Communalism in Modern India, (New Delhi Vikas Publishing Home, 1984), Pp 4 3 Ibid, 6 4 Asghar Ali Engineer, Gujarat Riots in the Light of the History of Communal Violence, sparing and Political Weekly, December 14, 2002, pp. 5047-5054 -11 Hindoos. Moreover, the major riots occurred when the sexual relation was in power in these takes or during the short and uncertain phase of the Janata political party coalition rule at the snapper. Riots in this phase might crap occurred in the vil lages or rural landing fields worry the Biharsharif riots, nevertheless they shit often re primary(prenominal)ed unreported. wherefore it is grave to distinguish this phase from the 1990s during which the BJP and its sister organisations carry been dynamic in instigating communal riots. Communal strength since 1990s involve to be nailn in the light of the ever-changing political equations in the country. The decline of the carnal know conductge and the emergence of the BJP as a hearty political durability proceedsed in teddy patterns of communal riots. Communal fury in the last two decades is a result of the manipulation of the apparitional sen prison termnts of lot by the Hindi right-wing organizations for political gains. The politicization of the Mandir-Masjid step forward and the subsequent demolition of the Mosque gave the BJP the probability to unify its vote bank. But in the exercise the c aren created a communal divide, and absolute frequency of r iots likewise en bragging(a)d during this judgment of conviction. Since partition, never onwards has one natural event concomitant resulted in the emergence of effect in approximately all the stirs. From the 1960s till 1980 local factors compete a very important theatrical billet in the emergence of riots, merely since the late 1980s this trend seems to be changing. Communal force out has always occurred when the BJP has cherished to expand its base. In the youthful big time the S asideh Indian raises, e supernumeraryly Kerala and Tamilnadu, have excessively witnessed communal vehemence and are slowly emergence into communally delicate fields. This is primarily because of the recent entrance of BJP in the political arena of these states. Apart from Godhra, the other(a) incidences of communal rage in the 90s have been minor, except they can non be dismissed.These eruptions of communal force have not been spontaneous, just now are form, and often have the living of the local political sciences. The state support to riots is a abundant open feature in India, yet the state has never been such(prenominal)(prenominal) an alive(p) participant in the force play earlier the Gujarat riots. Communal violence has entered a new phase with the Christians and members of other minority religions organism made the victims of planned overtures. Communal riots in this decade have been both urban and rural features, except the extent of deterioration is always greater in the prosperous centers of great deal and commerce. Tribal residential district in the rural areas is being forced to trip up intricate in the fall upons on Christians and Moslems by bringing them within the Hindootva framework. Apart from economic reasons, the address for Hindoo unity which is primarily a federal agency to achieve political avail is the main source for communal violence in this decade. Godhra was indeed the part major communal riot that got such a wide media coverage particularly from the satellite channels. on that pointfore the media now of necessity to be more responsible, considering the influence that it can have over the masses. It is time that the media halt any kind of dark coverage as it can further perk up on the communal elements to instigate the masses. Political parties have always had a hand in instigating and exploiting communal violence so as to meet their electoral interests. Though communal riots are condemned in mingled quarters, on that point is still complete inaction both from the administration and the ruling giving medications in more states. Though religious festivals and advancements are slackly the starting points of communal riots, still competent security is not provided during these times. in that respect is excessively not much response against attendants of communal violence from the civil society. Till the time the political parties which instigate communal riots ar e voted to power, the incentives to combat communalism will not be able to develop in fully. social class localisation of function Communities/Organizati ons problematical/Reasons Hindus, Islamics Hindus, Islamics Casualties d.o.a. cholecalciferol0 vitamin D0 hurt 25000 three hundred0 doubtfulness relegation forbiddencome Remarks 1947 show rattling(a), 1947 Calcutta and Naokhali, Bengal Lahore and Amritsar, PunjabKota Kota Jabalpur elopement of a Hindu misfire with a Islamic male child, son of a local bidi magnate was the ready cause contest betwixt Hindus and Moslems in the bidi diligence business disputation among the Hindus and the Islamics, particularly in the pot liquor allot in Rourkela rightness Shiv Dayal Srivastava charge news department was in in effect(p), the law and order government responsible for laxity in investigation and prosecution, resulting in large acquittalsThe riots in Bihar similarly conduct to large eggshell devastation of h uman lives and properties. Punjab was the slash effected during the Partition riots. It was the key to the come forward of partition and thus to the constitutional band of India. In Lahore and Amritsar armed work partys dispatch the volume and burned-over their homes billet brought under visualize quickly spotlight brought under engage quickly A new phase began with the Jabalpur riots when local factors started playing an important role in instigating violence.Rourkela, Calcutta, Jamshedpur 2000, mostly Moslems reaction to the atrocities commit against Hindus in east Pakistan. communal elements were apt(p) a free hand by the administration social class kettle of fish Communities/Organizati ons gnarled/Reasons started due to brick batting of a students onward motion urging that Urdu be made the atomic spell 16 take aim official language of Bihar Casualties unused 19 Hindus, 164 Moslems hurt doubtfulness committal Raghubir Dayal direction top Remarks lord ly 1967 Hatia, Ranchifeelings were agitated on hearing rumors ab turn up what happened in Ranchi. The delegacy was critical about the in suitable measures fruit by the district authority in Hatia DM and SP new and inexperienced political parties and labour unions criticized It was airlessly 1964-65 that communal disturbances began to occur in Aurangabad. The Jamait-e-Islami did not have any active branches till about 1964. The Jan Sangh in the fourth general elections found the first opportunity to approach the masses on a purely communal computer program since opposing coition candidate in Aurangabad was a Islamic. Majority of the Hindu creation of Karimganj was engaged in trade and business, the bulk of them were too tortuous in smuggling. The Hindus of the surface area resented the fact that Muslim smugglers had an edge over them, due to their relations with the Muslim deal in Pakistan.Aurangabadaccidental injury to a cow by a Muslim boy plot of land he was attem pt to drag it away from his shop. Loot and incendiarism by RSSJan Sangh and sexual intercourse workers. Retaliation by Muslims a cow be to a Muslim tres mooted into a Hindu house. When a Hindu boy tried to chase the cow away, a few Muslims hem in him up 41 Hindua, 41 Muslims one incident of stabbing a Hindu contact 1968Karimganj, Assam  grade billetCommunities/Organizati ons concern/Reasons Communal riots among Hindus and Muslims occurred near the s legal philosophy squadroller Temple in September. The riots stagger to 25 more localities, in which around 512 persons illogical their lives. It is allege that handbills bodeing for a religious war were distri saveed to the rioters by the Jan Sangh and the RSS.Casualties dead(a) 512 wound examination accusation rightness P.Jaganmoha n Reddy offspring Remarks Ahmadabad the havoc was caused by rumors, patrikas literature on blackboards and provoking newspaper reports recommended that the special branch of the Guja rat guard needed to be re nonionised.Bhiwandi, Maharashtra Jalgaon, Maharashtra Hindus traced the disturbances to the vilifyation of a married Hindu woman by few Muslim youth.. May 197017 Hindus, 59 Muslims 1 Hindu, 42 Muslims D. P. Madan way of examination D. P. Madan bearing of interrogative declare the MTM and Rashtriya Utsav Mandal shared joint smear for the riots report held that in that location was no such incident. The accusation tell that law officials with the help of more or less Hindus invented the story at a much later stage.The congress was not far behind in bedcover communal feelings. Most Congressmen participated directly or indirectly in the riots and called the Muslims anti-national. The Hindu Dharma Rakshak Samiti was organise at this time. Its members were largely centerfield score Hindus. Ahmedabads textile industry, which provided large exceed utilizement opportunities for Hindus and Muslims, was face a crisis, and in that location was st rong rivalry among the Hindu and Muslim workers in this industry. The relief work that followed the riots was not efficient and the general attitude towards the riot victims was unsympathetic. 1,286 Muslims and 323 Hindus were pay backed later on the riot The day the riots occurred, 8th May, all the ripened daubrs were out of town. Another spry reason for the riot was a brawl that took place at a pan shop at Rath Chowk amidst a Muslim and close to Hindus. division locatingCommunities/Organizations confused/Reasons riots stony- bust out by and by theannouncement of the Bhiwandi riots over All India Radio. in Nonari, the riots began on 15 November laterward Muslims murdered a Harijan leader a tug of 10,000 attacked Muslim houses and shops and started looting and arson. In Sajni on 12 December, a crowd of 5000 started looting and arson by and by a few Muslim boys tried to molest a Hindu Brahmin daughter of slightly other village. A Hindu boy, who was beat out up b y the Muslims, saved the little young woman rumor was fiesta the that the Hindu girl was raped riots started when students from the Anglo-Bengali College and youth men from the attached neck of the woods of Muslim weaverbirds clashed over the suspense of whether the spreading of yarn by weaver boys on a part of a playground was restricting the space getable for students to playCasualties exanimate wound 9 Hindus, 6 Muslims interrogation citizens commissioning D. P. Madan tutelage of interrogative sentence proceeds Remarks May 1970 Mahad, Maharashtracriticized the political parties for exploiting communal feelings. in Nonari, 107 houses of Muslims were looted and 76 were bewilder on fire November 1972Nonari and Sajni, Uttar Pradesh October 1977 Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh  Muslims were stabbed after being dragged out of a flick hall and several(prenominal)(prenominal) injuredThe guard instigated the riots by going to the Muslim locality and beating up the weavers. This led to a declension of the spotlight and further clashes victorious place. In another incident the jurisprudence did not select proper arrangements when a Hindu salary growth was crossing a Muslim locality. The law of nature, instead of firing at the miscreants in the stabbing incident, started firing on the Muslims. year mending Communities/Organizati ons obscure/Reasons Casualties exanimate 23 Hindus, 2 Muslims injure research bearing turn out Remarks March 1978 Sambhal, Uttar Pradesha big trading centre for smugglers and bootleggers. in that location was trade rivalry amidst the Hindus and the Muslims who precious to dispossess the Hindus oftheir property. Commerce in Aligarh revolves around the lock industry, which is have by inscrutable Muslims. But at that place is too the evolution of the Muslim workers by these owners. Every time a riot occurs the lock owners come out as protectors of the Muslim workers and thereafter continue their exploitation o f the workers. The Hindu traders, who are followers of the Jan Sangh, had control over the affectionate materials for the lock industry. The Hindu traders in like manner benefited from the riots as they got possession of a little more territory by occupying the land of the victims, which they generally leave due to fear. 19 264 were arrested Chenna Reddy, the consequently headman Minster of the state, started addressing Ganesh feelers, after this incident for political gains.October 1978Aligarh, Uttar Pradesh immediate reason for this particular riot was the murder of a Hindu. A forward motion was led demanding the vindicatement of the murderer but violence erupted when the wage hike was crossing the Muslim populated area. During the riots the ruling party office bearers used strong-arm methods to secure the bother of some antisocials arrested by the law of nature as a preventive measure. a particular group started throwing sways on a Ganesh ascension consisting of 2000 quite a little.September 1978Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh Year pickleCommunities/Organizati ons knobbed/Reasons a joint stormnavmi promotion passed done with(predicate) an area which had a significant confederacy of both Muslims and adivasis. The local MLA contend an active role in provoking the riots.Casualties shortly 120 killed, more than half were Muslims wound research Commission Jitendra Narain Commission of inquiry takings Remarks April 1979 Jamshedpur, Bihar think that the RSS, with its extensive organization in Jamshedpur and impede links with the BJP and the BMS, had a hand in creating a humour propitious for the out transgress of these disturbances. It further state that not a single Hindu was killed by the Bihar Military guard in 22 hours of firing resorted to by the police for quelling the riots. The population of Moradabad is evenly distributed amongst Hindus and Muslims. The towns brassware industry is the main source of its income. Most of the artisan s in the industry are Muslims, but the traders and exporters of the finished products are Hindus. in that respect has been a long stand up rivalry amongst the Muslims in this area and the Valmikis, traditionally sweepers. Constant clashes occur in the midst of them over land, and the straying of wild boars into the Muslim locality. riots in Moradabad was followed by Biharsharif, Merrut, Baroda, Bhiwandi, Pune and Sholapur. The PAC play a communal role, and in one particular incident 15 Muslims were killed by the PAC.August 1980Moradabad, Uttar PradeshId-prayers were disrupted 1500 to and scores of quite a little, 2000 including legion(predicate) young children, died in a stampede at the Idgah. The riot occurred on this particular subprogram when a police constable on duty refused to chase a pig when asked by Muslims in the Idgah. A number of Harijan slums and Muslim refugee camps were attacked. Year billet Communities/Organizati ons relate/Reasons a quarrel in a toddy shop owned by a Harijan. The apprehension erupted in the Gagandiwan village having a legal age Muslim population. There was too traditional rivalry among the Hindus and Muslims over a piece of land which both claimed as their own. bitterness over a Shiv temple and a Mazaar in two adjoining buildings in the highly sensitive Shahghasa area Casualties gone around 80 wound interrogative sentence Commission Balasubraman ian Commission set up by the Bihar Government return Remarks April 1981 Biharsharif, Bihar mischance of the intelligence machinery and the District Administration direct the higher government activity by not providing a correct assessment.The police did not take effective action to control the clash, which ended in rioting. The spread of traitorously rumors unnatural the other villages in Biharsharif. The travelling bag of the RSS and the Jammat-e-Islami in these areas further affixd the violenceSeptember 1982In the elections that took place forward the ri ots, a Muslim MLA was elected, displacing the BJP candidate. Soon after, the riots skint out over a trivial issue. Outside forces, which included the Shahi imam of Delhis Jama Masjid and some BJP leading fall in the fray. The worst sufferers of the riots were the Ansaris, Muslim weavers.Year fixingCommunities/Organizati ons involved/Reasons communal clashes occurred when the Dussera and Muharram coincided. The liquor traders from both communities looted and clashed with each other. The news of the shipping of the Hindu jurisprudence Commissioner due to draw from the Muslim alliance spread like wild fire, and led to a worsening of the situation. The Hindu leadership used the opportunity to criticize the Islamic Muslims for opening an Islamic study centre in Baroda. 19 riots occurred in the metropolis in a short span of 10 months. riots were sparked off by group rivalry between the Congress (I) MLA of Malur and the exCongress (I) MLACasualties lifeless 17 hurt 50 interrogati ve CommissionResultRemarksDecember 1982Baroda, GujaratAfter the 1969 communal riots, Baroda had witnessed a deliberate boycott of Muslim shops and establishments, which led to deterioration in the economic context of the Muslims. There was alike a rise of Islamic Fundamentalism and communal activities of the RSS and BJP. The illicit liquor trade was flourishing at that time in Baroda with a large number of shops selling local brands. Both Hindus and Muslims owned these shops. The constant competition among these shop owners often aggravated the situation.May 1983 Malur, KarnatakaThree months in advance the riots a Harijan women was raped by three Muslim youths and it was the communal, quite than the felonious aspect of the problem, that received much importance. Soon, another incident of molestation of a Hindu girl by a Muslim boy took place. The RSS took full advantage of the situation, and instigated some warring Hindus to take revenge. Soon after, trouble erupted leading to large-scale aggrieve to Muslim property. Communal disturbances in Malur were unknown to begin with the advent of the RSS.Year placementCommunities/Organizati ons involved/Reasons The bursting of bats before the Jama Masjid to deterrent fresh the victory of the Indian Cricket team in the World Cup led to communal riots Casualties Dead hurt Inquiry Commission Result Remarks June 1983 Malegaon, Maharashtra October 1983 Hazaribagh, Bihar betterment led by Hindus false knockdown-dragout after Muslims stopped it near the Jama Masjidtrade rivalry between the Hindus and the Muslims is marked. The Muslim loom-owners change only to Muslims, which affected the profits of Hindu traders. Cow assassinate is a sensitive issue, and Malegaon is the only district where 36 butchers had been convicted and imprisoned for three months for violating the Cow Slaughter Act. The situation worsened after the wherefore knob Minister, A.R.Antulay, floated the idea of constructing a martyrs memo rial to honour those who had lost their lives in the freedom struggle. The Malegaon authorities came up with names, all of which wereMuslims. The Hindus objected to this on the grounds that these people had been involved in destroying temples. This issue had been responsible for escalating the tension in 1982. There was an disturbance by the Muslims at that time also for displace a chapter from the standard VIII taradiddle textbook where it was verbalise that the Prophet Mohammad fled to Mecca caused by negligence by the local authorities era local political leaders persuaded the members of both the communities to start the Moharram improvement and the Chaitra stormnavmi forward motion to spread communal conformity, the actual invention of these leaders was to gain political advantage out of the situation. The Police inspite of being wellspring conscious of the situation did not take effective measuresYear Location Communities/ Organizations involved/Reasons desecration of a mosque, followed by the call for a bandh by MIM (Muslim Itthadul Muslimeen) party.Casualties Dead 45 Injured 150 Inquiry Commission Result Remarks September 1983 Hyderabad May 1984 Bhiwandi, MaharashtraA Shivaji Jayanti 146 procession led to large scale communal violence the ban on the Shivaji Jayanti procession after the 1970 riots was resented by the Shiv Sena.611 October 1984 Delhi anti-Sikh riots stone- bust out in Delhi and most part of North India after the assassination of the then prime Minister Mrs Indira Gandhi by her Sikh bodyguards 2733, mostly Sikhs Justice Jaggannath Misra Commission of Inquiry create in 1985. In 1999, the Justice Nanavati Commission began its investigations.Jaggannath Misra Commission recommended that the Delhi administration winder the conduct of the delinquent police The results of the Nanavati Inquiry Commission revealed that the police force vie a vital role in instigating violence.The BJP, RSS, VHP and the MIM solicitation to communa l sentiments and raise communal tensions on the eve of elections and religious festivals. From 1979 to 1984 there have been constant communal clashes in the metropolis. newspapers added further fuel to the communal violence by disclosing the identities of the victims. The Congress (I) and the TDP have formed electoral alliances with the MIM The Muslim population in Bhiwandi has increased considerably since 1970 and many of them set up their own powerloom industries, which was financed by Marwaris. Therefore, during the riots, the Marwari godowns were not done for(p) in Muslim areas. The increase in the number of smugglers andunderworld activities also led to communal tension. The number of Pakistani nationals staying illegally in the metropolis was around one lakh according to the unofficial figures. The pattern of these riots showed that they were organized and planned against a particular community and the many senior Congress leaders were alleged to have participated in the ant i-Sikh riots. The main impeach in these riots were H.K.L.Bhagat, Sajjan Kumar and Jagdish Tytler. All these senior Congress leaders were exonerated till the CBI on July 11, 2003 filed an appeal against a lower romance which exonerate Sajjan Kumar.Year Location Communities/Organizati ons involved/Reasons anti-reservation agitation Casualties Dead 300 Injured Inquiry Commission ResultRemarks April 1985 Ahmedabad city court in April 1986 pronounced the oddment sentence on five Muslims charged with the sidesplitting of 8 persons during the riots.There is large-scale penury among the Harijans and the Muslims who primarily live in the slums of Ahmedabad. Therefore the Muslims and Harijans did notrespond to a bandh called to aver the reservation policy by the focal ratio caste leaders. This eventually led to the animated down of their houses and destruction of their property.July 1986 Ahmedabad violence stone- stony- stony-broke out during the historic Rath Yatra procession by dint of the walled city areas. Disturbances started after the annual Rath Yatra of skipper Jagannath was subjected to a heavy stone throwing barrage in the sensitive Dariapur and Kalupur localities Year Location Communities/Organizati ons involved/Reasons Casualties Dead 6, 75 Injured 40 Inquiry Commission Minority Commission headed by Shri N.C.Saxena Result Remarks April, May 1987Meerut satanic the police for its biased attitude in its report and stated that the Hindu communal groups aggravated the situation.October 1989Indoreriots started after a Ramshila procession was stopped. After the Ramshila procession, a Muslim local leader with political ambitions took out a rally on the former of Milad-un Nabi, the Prophets day. The procession was passing through the streets of Indore when two explosions took place leading to confusion and then the riots broke out.7 Hindus, 20 MuslimsThe PAC had killed a number of young men and propel their bodies into a canal during these riots. T he media however played a positive role in uncovering the communal role played by the PAC in cleanup innocent people. In April 1995 that the Mulayam Singh Government denote that the 19 guilty policemen would be prosecuted. The lower-middle class, the middle strata of the population had participated in large verse in these riots, while large function of the Harijans attacked localities inhabited by the Muslims. In some areas the rioting was between the Harijans and Muslims. The mere forepart of the PAC in Muslim mass mohallas created a feeling of insecurity among the Muslims, while Hindus wanted the deployment of PAC in their localities. There was a joggle of communal violence that took place in Kota, Badaun, Bhagalpur, Ratlam, Mhow, Khargone, Khambat, Palanpur and several other places. result of communal politics played by the BJP, VHP and the RSS, and it is interesting that the violence occurred in Congress run states. The violence in Indore and other areas were the result o f political rather than religious overtones. It was concisely after this wave of violence started that elections were announced. Local factors also played a significant role in the emergence of violence. Muslims form 10% of the summarisepopulation of Indore and are largely backward, both economically and socially, but the important fact is that the Hindus and the Muslims have different political loyalties which further the BJP and the Congress leaders to exploit the situation to their benefit. Several Muslim families suffered from police excesses.Year Location Communities/Organizati ons involved/Reasons riots broke out on the occasion of Anant Chaturdashi when Hindus took out a procession. The procession was marked by the liaison of a number of Akhadas which were a part of the VHP, RSS and the Shiv Sena. Despite warnings the administration did not make proper arrangements at the time of the procession. riots occurred during the Ram Navami processionCasualties Dead Injured Inquir y Commission Result Remarks September 1989Kota, Rajasthan The Muslims in Kota are poor, except for the Bohra Muslims who are a business community. But a large number of Muslims from this area went to the Middle-East and became prosperous. Therefore the dependency relation between the Muslims and the Hindus was disrupted. Moreover, with the coming of theCentre of Indian Trade Unions, controlled by the consumer price index (M), there have been more strikes and militant trade union actions. Thus, the relations between the Hindus and the Muslims ceased to be cordial from the late 70s itself. The Muslims suffered the most in the riots and among them the Dawoodi Bohras were the worst victimized. 4 Hindus, 13 Muslims. Bhadrak had a population of 70,000 Muslims at the time of the riots and two Muslim Congress leaders were popular in that area. The economy of Bhadrak was under the control of Marwaris and Oriya Hindus. But economically there was no competition between the Hindus and the Mus lims. The Marwaris employ some Muslims and there is a long standing enmity between the employers and the workers on the revision of pay scales. During these riots the Muslims looted the Marwari shops and burn them. The Muslims who had earlier voted for the Congress in the 80s switched their loyalties to the Janata dal. The BJP was also trying at this time to get a strong hold in Orissa. Therefore it decided to take out Ram Navami processions in many places in the state. They took out a procession at Bhadrak too and surprisingly the police allowed it to pass through a Muslim locality.March 1989 Bhadrak, OrissaThe mobilization campaign for Kar Sevaks to construct the proposed Ram Janma Bhoomi Temple at Ayodhya on thirtieth October 1990 aggravated the communal aviation in the country. Communal riots occurred in the wake of L.K.Advanis Rath Yatra wherever it went.. These riots were led by RSS-BJP men to consolidate theHindu vote bank. They were far-flung over almost all the states f rom Assam to westerly Bengal, Bihar, Orissa, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Gujarat, Maharashtra and D elhi. Year Location Communities/Organizati ons involved/Reasons nearly 1400 communal incidents 120 riots Casualties Dead 224 38 Injured 775 170 Rioting, arson and looting was witnessed in Vyara and Bulsar towns of South Gujarat. The violence continued in Ahmedabad, Bapunagar, Baroda andAnkleshwar. 200 persons belong to the minority community were detained under TADA, but among these there were no charges could be established against 178, nor any explosives or weapons recovered. 144 Inquiry Commission Result RemarksApril to December 1990 January and April 1991 October 1990 Gujarat Gujarat Ahmedabad violence began shortly after 41 the Rath Yatra was started from SomnathRajasthan October 1990 October 1990 Jaipur jodhpur, Rajasthan despise campaign organized 52 by the BJP since the Rath Yatra started from Somnath VHP, BJP and Bajrang 20 dkl call ed for a Jodhpur bandh to sound off the arrest of L.K.Advani vitamin C+Uttar Pradesh>From the cockcrow of the bandh, BJP leaders including MLAs terrorized a section of the people by using physical force and exciting slogans, which resulted in communal violence. The administration shielded the miscreants but adopted antiMuslim postures. Curfew was enforce in 49 districtsYear Location Communities/Organizati ons involved/Reasons after the BJP chief started the Rath Yatra Casualties Dead 33 InjuredInquiry Commission Result Remarks October, 1990 Lucknow November 1990 Agra April-May 1990 Kanpursituation in the city was strive due to the Rath Yatra by L.K.Advani. The incident that led to riots was the stabbing of a water scooter rider. 20 to 22 similar incidents occurred during the corresponding time at different places. The city was a victim of communal riots thrice within a year.31 mostly Muslims army had to be deployed. But condescension its presence it became difficult to brin g the situation under control and the riots became a rhythmical feature for the beside two months. The VHP leaders in the town were engaged in instigating communal sentiments. The city remained disturbed for nearly two months, despite the curfew imposed. 669 arrested.Communal violence resulted from a clash between mafia dons to establish a foothold in politics by communalizing incidents that resulted in violence. The city was tensed during this time due to the Rath Yatra organized by the BJP, RSS and VHP. Therefore communal riots could break out with slight provocation. But the riots that broke out in May were organized and planned. It started with the aggressive BJP stormtroopers taking out procession in Muslim dominated Lakkarmandi area and hurling abuses at the community. This was a followed by retaliation from few Muslims and four persons got killed. The next day disturbances began again due to a BJP group meeting which was right in strawman of a thickly populated Muslim are a. This led to communal riots and the police had no control over the mob.Year Location Communities/Organizati ons involved/Reasons began in Chandni Chowk area when L.K. Advanis Rath Yatra was passing through Casualties Dead 100+ Injured Inquiry Commission Result Remarks October 1990 Delhi October 1990 Hailakandi, Assam October 1990 Beawar, MaharashtraHindus demanded a government plot for the complex body part of a Kali Temple which for a very long time was commonly owned by all the communities and used for all public functions. The District Magistrate, Halakandi at that time was a Muslim and the BJP victimized this factor to its own benefit. VHP and BJP gave a call for Baewar bandh to protest against the arrest of L.K.Advani30 to 40 people who were participants of the rally attacked the representative imaum of the Fatehpuri Masjid. As soon as the news of the attack on the Imam spread to the other parts riots broke out in Lal Kuan and Jama Masjid Chowk Communal tension began to r ise as soon as VHP, RSS and BJP organized pujas to purify the bricks for Shilayas at Ayodhya. The unvarying migration of people from Bangladesh also instigates violence between the two communitiesIn an effort to close Jai Mandir Cinema hall, a skirmish erupted between students and its employees. The RSS and BJP gave this small incident a communal angle. The administration formed pink of my John committees to take note communal harmony. The peace committees had representatives of various political parties and religious organization. These were the very people who instigated communal violence.Year Location Communities/Organizati ons involved/Reasons RamjanmabhoomiMasjid controversy Casualties Dead Hindus, 896 Muslims Injured Inquiry Commission Result Remarks October 1989-90 Bhagalpur, BiharBhagalpur Communal Riots Inquiry Commission submitted its report after six old age but the members was not unanimous in their findings of the riot. piece of music two members of the commission blamed the BJP-VHP and the Muslim fundamentalists for the riots, the Chairman Commission held the Congress responsible.October 1990 November 1990 Patna Indore, Madhya Pradesh Rath Yatra organized by the BJP 18-100+ 7 Hindus, 6 Muslims 150 demand to set up an Inquiry Commission was rejected by the Chief Ministercenter for crime, and the politicization of crime. There are a large number of Muslims in and around Bhagalpur. some Muslims are either weavers or in the powerloom business. roughly Muslims are well-todo businessmen or property owners. The intelligence sources and the people were well aware of the likelihood of riots breaking out, but did not stop the Rath Yatra procession and allowed it to pass through a Muslim dominated area. There is intense rivalry between two factions of the Congress here, which is reflected through gang wars even before the riots. Gang rivalries emerged during the dispute between the Hindus and the Muslims in the celebration of their festivals. The Su perintendent of Police played a blatant backer role during the riots. Along with Bhagalpur city around 206 villages were affected. 3000 powerlooms were looted and burned. 1100 Hindus and 900 Muslims arrested 7 houses and 5 shops burnt and 8 Mosques alter large scale damage to property. riots here continued for 5 days in which a Mosque was destroyed and a Temple desecrated.Year Location Communities/Organizati ons involved/Reasons Casualties Dead 60 Injured Inquiry Commission Interim deal an organization called the CFD 350Result Remarks December 1990Hassan, Mandya, Madikeri and Mysore, Karnataka Hyderabad Hyderabad the arrestof the BJP chief, L.K.Advani, in Bihar a fight between two gangs of land grabbers belong to different communities stabbing of a hawker boyblamed a local organization, the Hindu Yuva Sakti for the events leading to the riotsAfter S.Banagarappa took over the Chief Ministership from Veerendra Patil, he formed a state level committee for bringing communal harmony BJP and RSS exploiting the Rath Yatra, Kar Seva and Ram Temple to flash communal passions. The MIM too joined the fray. It was untrue that the killer must be Muslim, and soon 150 persons allegedly belonging to the Congress went on a stabbing spree. In this incident 20 Muslims were killed. The Majlis retaliated by putting to death migrant bodily structure workers and each time a construction worker was killed, the BJP went on a procession with the body. This instigated further violence and the riots lasted for 10 days, The riots stopped after the yielding of the Chief Minister Chenna Reddy. a result of aggressive electioneering by the BJP since the atmosphere was already tense this small incident was only an excuse to start the riots. The city once again witnessed communal rapture on the occasion of Muharram. The frequent riots in the city are a result of communal politics. Moreover, the city is very engorged with Hindus and the Muslims living almost in segregation. There is a h igh rate of unemployment, pauperisation and lack of education, which exacerbates the riots.October 1990 December 1990 April-July 1991 Baroda a boy was hit by an auto rickshaw  LocationCommunities/Organizati ons involved/Reasons Rioting began on pick Day when the Hindus allegedly prevented the Muslims from select In November the riots began with the Kali religious procession organized by Nav Sangh Club. Its members were divided into two groups, one of which was led by the BJP-VHP-RSS. When the procession entered a Muslim locality, slogans were shouted, and crackers were burst. Rumors spread that the divinity was broken by the Muslims.Casualties Dead 50+ Injured Inquiry Commission Result Remarks MayNovember 1991Benaras, UP In Benaras, a large number of Muslims are weavers and they suffered the most during the riots. The rioters were led by the PAC. Most of the Muslims are weavers though some have turned entrepreneurs and are prosperous. The present phase of riots in Benaras is also a result of the exploitation competition between the prosperous Muslim entrepreneurs and traditional Hindu traders. The police force in Benaras after the Ram Janmabhoomi issue was highly communalized. Between 1967 and 1991 Benaras witnessed 12 communal riots. In November 1991, Instead of the antisocial elements it was the police that looted and terrorized the Muslims. Communal riots erupted on the Election Day, because the BJP was upset that it would to lose the Meerutcity seat. The Janata decaliter candidate received the Muslim and dklit votes while the BJP got the Hindu votes. There was thus a complete polarization of votes. The violence soon spread to 13 more villages in the area.May 1991 Baroda, UP 4 Hindus, 24 Muslims October 1992 Sitamarhi, Bihara religious procession taken out by one community was stopped by another communityRiots after the demolition of Babri Masjid Year Location Communities/Organizati ons involved/Reasons A bandh was called by a Muslim organizat ion which did not have much of a sideline among the Muslims. The bandh was followed by the damaging of a dye mill and soon the situation deteriorated into a riot. Casualties Dead Less than 200, 95% Muslim Injured Surat has a considerable population of Muslims who are chiefly into the trading business, and have a close business alliance with the Hindu traders which was the reason attributed for communal harmony in Surat. The unemployment level in the city was also low. But, from the late 80s, there was growing incidents of crime as migrant workers who are not rooted in its floriculture have settled in the city. The dislike campaign by the RSS-BJP combine also added fuel to the situation. The Babri Masjid Action Committee and other Muslim leaders also played with the emotions of the Muslims. The atmosphere in Surat was tense and the Babri Masjid incident provided theopportunity for organizations to start the riots. The manner in which large scale looting and ruins took place rev ealed that the riots were pre-planned. Inquiry Commission Result Remarks December 1992 Surat Year LocationCommunities/Organizati ons involved/Reasons the repeated showing of the junk of the Babri Masjid by BBC instigated more violence a Muslim mob attacked a temple which added to the fury 1993 the Shiv Sena seemed to have been preparing for these riotsCasualties Dead 400+ and 600+ mostly due to police firing and mostly Muslims InjuredInquiry Commission Justice Srikrishna Commission Result Remarks December 1992, January 1993Bombay blamed the Shiv Sena chief, Bal Thakeray and Sena activists for the riots. It blamed them for their political role in fomenting communal furor and organizing attacks on Muslims. On the role of the Congress government in theState, the Commission spy that inefficient political leadership, vacillation for political reasons and conflicting orders issued to the Commissioner of Police resulted in a dilemma to shoot or not to shoot. 30,000 Muslims were displac ed. On 9th December mobs of Hindu men entered Muslim homes, ransacked their belongings, often cleaning a family member. The main victims during these riots were the poor Muslims and also the middle-class Muslims of BHEL township of Bhopal. The state government was not able to provide the adequate security to the people and the police also played a vital role in aggravating the situation.December 1992 Bhopal 143, majority Muslims Year LocationCommunities/Organizati ons involved/Reasons A blast in the Hindu Munnani office in MadrasCasualties Dead 4 Injured Inquiry CommissionResult Remarks March 1995 Madras April, 1995 Chitradurga, Karnataka KeralaApril 1995 a quarrel between two groups of bus agents belonging to two different communities Riots broke out between Christians and Muslims. visit by members of the discipline Minorities CommissionThe betray was planted by a Muslim youth who was also responsible for planting a bomb in the RSS office in August 1993 when 13 people were kille d. The Munani was targeted because of a provocative speech delivered by its State President, Rama Gopalan. There was a powerful blast in Rameshwaram where a BJP activist was also stabbed to death over the years, there has been an increase in the activities of the RSS-VHP. The Muslim population in the state is quite prosperous as compared to Muslims in other states but again with an increase in the flow of Middle East money there has also been an increase in the Muslim fundamentalist activities in many parts of the state. The state has fabricate communally sensitive after the BJP expand its political base here. It did not have a past narrative of communal riots A place of worship was damaged in the riots and fishing equipment expense several lakhs destroyed The Muslims alleged that the police were a silent spectator. One of the Samajwadi Party leaders alleged that the violence was designed to punish the SP workers by the Mayawati government. Though the village Rajputs support defu sing the conflict, the attitude of the villagehead was instrumental in instigating the violence.June 1995 Rankhandi, UP Hindus objected to the construction of a mosque. After the Mosque was finally constructed, a crowd collected and destroyed it1 in police firing  Year LocationCommunities/Organizati ons involved/Reasons four Muslims were killed in a quarrel over a boundary wall Communal clashes occurred on the occasion of Ganapati processionCasualties Dead 5 InjuredInquiry Commission Result Remarks July 1995 Palmau, Bihar September 1995 Madras and Hyderabad 2 in Hyderaba d 100+January 1998 Kanpur an attack on the Imam of a mosque the protests following it turned to clashes between Hindus and MuslimsFebruary 1998 Ajmer, Rajasthanalleged to have been started by some communal element among the shopkeepers outside the Dargah of Ajmer Sharif local police in the State are highly communalized and the corrupt state of personal business further aids in the occurrence of communal violenc e In Madras stones were pelted on Muslims who were offering prayers in a Mosque. It was alleged that the Hindu Munnani leaders had a hand in the clash. The riots in Hyderabad were more serious due to a past history of communal riots in the state. The police claimed that the clashes were an result of the Lok Sabha elections which were to take place. Kanpur has also been communally explosive in the past and in the recent years, with the organization of rallies and processions by the BJP the number of such incidents has increased further. The city has a large population of Muslims and the riot was. There are shops owned by the majority community outside the Dargah but houses are of theminority community, and miscreants set these shops and houses alight. A memorandum presented to the vizor Minister Inder Kumar Gujral alleged that the police entered the Dargah with their office on and lathi charged the people offering prayers and also fired in the air.Year Location Communities/Organi zati ons involved/Reasons riots followed the blasts that killed 60 people it was alleged that the blasts were organized by the al-Ummah and alJihad organizations, aided and abetted by the ISI Casualties Dead Injured Inquiry Commission P.R.Gokulakri shna Commission of Inquiry ResultRemarks February 1998 Coimbatore a definite resort on the part of the police personnel, deputed for surveillan e and checks, who ought to have discharged their duties more rigorously, watchfully and intelligently.May 1998Moradabad, University Press Rioting broke out after an acid nursing bottle was thrown on the taziah procession allegedly by BJP supporters riots started when a Muslim mob coming out of a Mosque near the Charminar in the old city went demoniacal and attacked shops in the area. The trouble began after the circulation of an anonymously produced pamphlet lampooning the religious sentiments of Muslims June 1998HyderabadThe target of the attack was allegedly L.K.Advani who was to address an election meeting in the city. The police arrested some 500 people in connection with these blasts. Coimbatore had witnessed communal riots in 1997 as well and the Hindu Munnani activists were alleged to have played a key role in those riots. While L.K.Advani escaped the attack, BJP got a lot of benevolence votes. Coimbatore has also been a center of Muslim fundamentalist activities and the BJP has been trying to expand its political base in the city. Around 80 people were arrested including several political leaders who tried to visit the riot affected areas. The Moradabad riots took a serious turn mainly due to the alleged involvement of the political parties. the army was alerted and the Union Home Ministry was urged to send the Para-military force. There were different reasons given for the occurrence of the riots but all pointed the responsibility of the different political parties. An ex-mayor of the city who was accused of distributing these pamphlets surrendered, and there w ere five more arrests made in this connection.Year LocationCommunities/Organizati ons involved/Reasons the VHP and Bajrang Dal activists terrorized the Muslim community over some Muslim boys marrying tribal girlsCasualties Dead 2 Injured Inquiry Commission ResultRemarks July 1998 Bardoli and Sanjeli, Gujarat October 1998Nalanda and clashes erupted over the Mungher, Bihar issue of immersion of the Durga idol in the Katrapar locality in Nalanda Ahwa and the BJP and Bajrang Dal Dang districts, attacked Christian Gujarat churches Suratkul, Karnataka Manoharpur, Orissa an eve-teasing incident involving a Muslim boy and a Hindu girl Graham Staines, an Australian-born Christian Missionary was burnt alive along with his two children by VHP activists led by Dara SinghThe VHP consider the tribals as Hindus and held dharma sabhas in these villages. After every such event, Muslim shops were looted and burnt. The police was asked to stay away and threatened with being transferred. Marriages betw een Hindu girls and Muslim boys are contradictory by these organizations and Christians too have come under attack in many parts of Gujarat. Some 200 copies of the script were burnt by the Sangh Parivar activists claiming that they were a means to convert the people. The leaders of various political parties tried to gain political gas mileage out of the incident. In Munger, 27 people including three policemen were injured. Though a peace committee was constituted by the state home minister, the committee members traded charges and Christians were even accused by the members of being naxalites. The riots continued in January the following year and were encouraged by the Hindu Jagran Vedike After the Babri Masjid attack when the VHP and Bajrang Dal could not attract the support of the masses, they started following a new strategy by attacking churches.December 1998 January 1999 CM JH.Patel ordered an inquiry The Wadhwa Commissionconcluded that Dara Singh was responsible for th e killings, but did not see the hand of any other communal organization.Year LocationCommunities/Organizati ons involved/Reasons riots broke out after two people were killed on the occasion of Mahavir Jayanti and Idul Fitr. Riots broke out again in July after an Indo-Pak cricket match Casualties Dead 1 Injured Inquiry Commission Result Remarks January-July 1999 Ahmedabad July 1999 Harda, MP September 1999 December 1999 Surat Auranagabad December 2000Kolhapur, Karnataka a communal mob confronted the police and the Deputy Superintendent of police was killed. violence broke out during the Ganapati festival a procession of Muslims and the Samajwadi party members to mark the seventh day of remembrance of the demolition of Babri Masjid was lathi- charged by the police riots broke out when some people of the minority community did not close their shops after a bandh was called by the Shiv Sena over the killing of an Army Jawan in a bomb explosion in Kashmir 29 In the second incident, ther e was an organized attempt to distribute crackers among the youngsters. The cricket match incident was followed by the Kargilwar, when demonstrations were held against Pakistan in which both Hindus and Muslims participated. However, in many demonstrations objectionable slogans were raised. Curfew was clamped in the area and the violence continued for a couple of days. almost 90 persons were arrested in this connection. 27 government ordered a judicial enquiry The riots were a result of a dispute over the route to be taken by the procession The Shiv Sena had flooded the whole area with saffron flags just before the riots. Several journalists were injured in the police lathicharge. The police had also permitted the Shiv Sena to organize a religious ceremony just before the riots broke out. The shops which did not close were kill by a 10,000 strong crowd. a few injured Year Location Communities/Organizati ons involved/Reasons after the Jama Masjid was gutted due to a short circuitCas ualties Dead Injured Inquiry Commission Result Remarks January 2001 Kishtwar, Jammu March 2001 March, 2001Nalanda, Bihar Kanpur two groups clashed on the occasion of Holi in Shambhu village the protest attest taken out by the Students Islamic Movement of India (SIMI) over the burning of a copy of the Quran turned violentThe state came under the spell of communal politics after the emergence of the Jamaat-i-Islami which began as a cultural organization. After it won 5 seats in the fable elections, it started showing its communal colors. There are many other communal organizations that have come up now in Kashmir and terrorist activities further encourage communal violence. oer the years the BJP has also gained some political mileage in the state. Superintendent of Police brought the situation under control The procession was fired upon by the PAC killing 12 persons, all young Muslim boys. The PAC was itself a party to the looting that followed. The SIMI has spread communal poison o ver the years and instigated the minds of Muslim youths through provocative posters. In spite of its controversial role the PAC is deployed as soon as a disturbance emerges. The procession was taken out to demand the arrest of people who were involved in the construction of a religious structure in a village near by.April 2001 Beawar, Rajasthana VHP-BJP procession was stoned and miscreants threw bottles of acid on itYear Location Communities/Organizati ons involved/Reasons violence erupted after the murder of a youth belonging to the minority community following an incident of eve teasing Casualties Dead InjuredInquiry Commission ResultRemarks June 2001 Chamrajnagar, Mysore Jamner, Maharashtra June 2001 July 2001 Moradabad, UP a gang of miscreants attacked the houses of the minority communityAugust 2001 August 2001 Amravani, Maharashtra Ahmedabad October 2001 Malegaon, MaharashtraShiv Sainiks attacked Muslims who were taking their oxen for slaughter hawkers belonging to the minority community were crush up in the Maninagar area. arrest of a Muslim youth distributing pamphlets outside a Mosque 2 1 in police firing 30 10, including 4 policemen several12 persons were taken into custody after the riots. Arson and looting took place on a large scale but there was no loss of life. Many people came out into the streets carrying swords and began looting and burning property. The population of Muslims in this town happens to be quite substantial, whereas Sarpanch and the MLA both belonged to the BJP. Those involved in the looting and arson fled the town and were not arrested even several days after the incidents. no one was arrested. The police said that the motive behind the clashes could have been robbery. But, a deputation of the Jamait-ul-Ulema visited the village and refuted the police theory, because those killed were very poor and had hardly anything in their houses worth robbing. The police arrested 70 persons in this connection. quaternion Bajrang Dal activi sts were arrested for inciting violence.13, including 3 in police firing Year LocationCommunities/Organizati ons involved/Reasons the burning at Godhra, of a go-cart of the Sabarmati express which was coming from Ayodhya, carrying kar sevaksCasualties Dead 2000+ InjuredInquiry Commission More than 30 reports have been prepared by various committees. On March 6, 2002, inquiry committee under Justice (Rtd.) KG Shah and Justice Nanavati establishedResult Remarks February, 2002 Ahmedabad, GujaratTheir common finding has been that it was a one-sided carnage and not a riot in the usual sense.The violence continued for about a month. The administration as well as the government did nothing to control the violence and right-wing organizations like the VHP and Bajrang Dal got full support in spreading violence. The Modi government benefited from all this as the BJP won the assemblage elections in December, 2002.February 2002 Kaithal, Haryana linked to the Gujarat violence March 2002 March 2002Bhivani district, a mob of 300 persons Haryana were incited by rumors of cow slaughter Rajasthan violence occurred on the occasion of Muharram. The immediate reason for the violence was the organization of a yagna in a temple by the VHP, BJP and Bajrang DalMobs pulled down a Mosque and considerable damage was done to property. The police made weakly attempts to stop the mob, which later demolished the Macesoleum of Pir Nurani Badshah and extensively damaged three others. two mosques and 15 shops and houses belonging to the Muslims were attacked The population of the area comprises 25 percent Muslims and was once considered to be a stronghold of the SIMI.Year Location Communities/Organizati ons involved/Reasons riots began when some Muslim organizations led by the Muslim Vikas Parishad gave the call for a bandh to protest against a Christian Baptist priest in the US describing the Prophet as a terrorist Celebrations over Indias win against Pakistan in the World Cup turned violen t Casualties Dead 9 Injured cxv Inquiry Commission Result Remarks October 2002 Sholapur, MaharashtraThe protestors went in procession after prayers on Friday good afternoon and threw stones at a Navratri pandal. The Hindus retaliated and riots broke out.. 500 arrested.March 2003 Gujarat 1 in Gujarat 9 several elsewhere several confusable incidents also took place in Vadodara, Gorakhpur, Gajrawadi, Kolkata and Bangalore Marad was a case of planned attack when some well armed men came and killed members of a particular community.May 2003 Marad, Kerala About the cause B Rajeshwari is a Research scholarly person at the Center for Political Studies, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi. She is writing her MPhil dissertation titled Power, knowledge and Globalisation A Case contract of TRIPS. Her research interests include issues relating to Communal Violence, governance and Development. Currently she is Research Assistant at the Institute of Peace and Conflict Studies.