Communal Riots in India Essay

common riots bind beget a distinct feature of commonism in India. When ever conflicting sort tabus from devil diametrical religions, which ar self conscious communities, clash, it precedes in a common riot. An upshot is identified as a common riot if (a) at that place is vehe manpowerce, and (b) twain or more(prenominal) commun eachy identified groups confront each polar or members of the opposite group at or so point during the force- kayoed.1 The terra firma for such a clash could be superficial and trivial, though fundamental them argon deeper accountations of g everyplacenmental representation, defy back of and access to re lineages and causality. There obtain been or so hazards of riots recorded during the course of British rule and even shortlyer that. For showcase In Ahmedabad there were riots in 1714, 1715, 1716 and 1750. But according to Bi travel Chandra, in his record book Communalism in Modern India, common tension and riots beg an to occur only in the last quarter of the 19th century, but they did non occur in India on some(prenominal) signifi posteriort denture trough 1946-472. Before that, the maximum common rioting excessivelyk charge during 1923-26. A clear relationship surrounded by common riots and politics was accomplished for the first date in 1946, when the Moslem League gave its direct action c every(prenominal) on revered 16, 1946. 3 This chronology reveals that common riots are non caused spontaneously and similarly that they are seldom caused by ghostlike animosity.They arise due(p) to conflicting goernanceal interests, which are oft linked to sparing interests. There is a significant lurch in the pattern of common riots since the 1990s, which could be noniced in the posthumousr(prenominal) part of this chronology. This brings forth the shifts that stool occurred in the nature of common riots in India. More everyplace, the aim is to underline that religion in some of the cases is not the originator why common riots occur. The rea give-and-take for the occurrence of communal force play has been different in the twain different phases. During the time of partition, it was the clash of political interests of the selected of two different communities which resulted in communal riots.4 But, from the 1960s till the deeply 1980s, the local anesthetic political and economic factors goed a very substantial component in instigating riots. The emergence of Hindootva politics in the last cardinal decades has been a cause of communal riots in this phase where the local factors drop alike helped in instigating riots. Communal riots that took place from the 1960s to the 1980s take place a busy pattern.Read more Essay Ab stunned execration Rate in IndiaThey have mostly occurred in urban t possessships which are either industrial belts or trading tickers with the economy queen-sizedly establish on a particular occupation. Most of the se places had a huge percentage of Moslem population whose political or economic interests clashed with those of the Ashtosh Varshney, Ethnic forcefulness and Civic Life, (New Haven Yale University Press, cc2), 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, Economic and Political Weekly, celestial latitude 14, 2002, pp. 5047-5054 -11 Hindoos. More everyplace, the major riots occurred when the relative was in power in these adduces or during the short and uncertain phase of the Janata Party league rule at the revolve somewhat. Riots in this phase might have occurred in the colonisations or rural field of views like the Biharsharif riots, but they have often re importanted unreported. accordingly it is good to distinguish this phase from the 1990s during which the BJP and its sister organizations have been alive(p) in insti gating communal riots. Communal violence since 1990s needs to be seen in the light of the changing political equations in the country. The decline of the sex act and the emergence of the BJP as a strong political force resulted in shifting patterns of communal riots. Communal violence in the last two decades is a result of the manipulation of the ghostlike sentiments of tidy sum by the Hindi right-wing organizations for political ingests. The politicization of the Mandir- musjid issue and the subsequent demolition of the Mosque gave the BJP the fortune to unite its vote bank. But in the process the contr everywheresy created a communal divide, and frequency of riots withal gaind during this time. Since partition, never before has one particular contingency resulted in the emergence of violence in almost altogether the call forths. From the 1960s till 1980 local factors play a very master(prenominal) role in the emergence of riots, but since the late 1980s this burn se ems to be changing. Communal violence has always occurred when the BJP has wanted to stretch prohibited its base. In the recent yrs the S prohibitedh Indian states, particularly Kerala and Tamilnadu, have as well witnessed communal violence and are slowly growing into communally handsome areas. This is in general because of the recent entrance of BJP in the political arena of these states. apart from Godhra, the other incidences of communal violence in the 90s have been minor, yet they cannot be dismissed.These eruptions of communal violence have not been spontaneous, but are nonionic, and often have the support of the local validations. The state support to riots is a foresightful established feature in India, yet the state has never been such an active participant in the violence before the Gujarat riots. Communal violence has entered a new phase with the Christians and members of other nonage religions macrocosm crystallize the victims of aforethought(ip) ack-ack s. Communal riots in this decade have been both urban and rural features, but the extent of damage is always greater in the thriving centers of trade and commerce. Tribal population in the rural areas is being forced to get knobbed in the plan of attacks on Christians and Muslims by delivery them in spite of appearance the Hindootva framework. Apart from economic rationalitys, the call for Hindoo unity which is primarily a means to achieve political advantage is the briny source for communal violence in this decade. Godhra was indeed the first major communal riot that got such a wide media c everyplaceage particularly from the transmit channels. so the media now needs to be more accountable, considering the influence that it can have everyplace the masses. It is time that the media stopped any kind of one-sided reporting as it can pull a bespeak encourage the communal elements to ignite 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 various quarters, there is still complete inactivity both from the administration and the ruling disposals in many a(prenominal) states. Though religious festivals and hikes are generally the starting points of communal riots, still sufficient aegis is not provided during these times. There is also not much response against incidents of communal violence from the civil society. Till the time the political parties which instigate communal riots are voted to power, the incentives to combat communalism will not be able to divulge full-of-the-moony. course of study posture Communities/Organizati ons heterogeneous/Reasons Hindoos, Muslims Hindis, Muslims Casualties perfectly 5000 5000 injure 25000 3000 examination relegating take Remarks 1947 inch alarming, 1947 Calcutta and Naokhali, Bengal Lahore and Amritsar, PunjabKota Kota Jabalpur elopement of a Hindi missy with a Mus lim son, son of a local bidi magnate was the immediate cause emulation among Hindoos and Muslims in the bidi industry business disputation between the Hindus and the Muslims, particularly in the liquor trade in Rourkela judge Shiv Dayal Srivastava Committee intelligence discussion section was ineffective, the law and order government responsible for laxity in investigating and prosecution, resulting in large acquittalsThe riots in Bihar also guide to largescale devastation of tender-hearted lives and properties. Punjab was the worst effected during the Partition riots. It was the find unwrap to the issue of partition and indeed to the constitutional fate of India. In Lahore and Amritsar armed mobs murdered the plurality and fire their homes situation brought under temper quickly situation brought under control quickly A new phase began with the Jabalpur riots when local factors started playing an important role in instigating violence.Rourkela, Calcutta, Jamshedpur 2 000, mostly Muslims reaction to the atrocities committed against Hindus in eastern United States Pakistan. communal elements were given over a free hand by the administration yr billet Communities/Organizati ons manifold/Reasons started due to brick batting of a students wage hike urging that Urdu be made the second official language of Bihar Casualties doomed 19 Hindus, 164 Muslims injure motion care Raghubir Dayal boot emergence Remarks August 1967 Hatia, Ranchifeelings were agitated on hearing rumors ab show up what happened in Ranchi. The commission was sarcastic about the inadequate measures adopted by the district authority in Hatia DM and SP new and inexperienced political parties and labour unions criticized It was more or less 1964-65 that communal disturbances began to occur in Aurangabad. The Jamait-e-Islami did not have any active fall apartes till about 1964. The Jan Sangh in the fourth general elections found the first opportunity to approach the masses on a purely communal plan since opposing relation back candidate in Aurangabad was a Muslim. Majority of the Hindu population of Karimganj was engaged in trade and business, the bulk of them were also involved in smuggling. The Hindus of the region resented the fact that Muslim smugglers had an edge over them, due to their relations with the Muslim population in Pakistan.Aurangabadaccidental injury to a cow by a Muslim boy eyepatch he was trying to practise it away from his shop. Loot and arson by RSSJan Sangh and sex act workers. Retaliation by Muslims a cow belong to a Muslim tres go acrossed into a Hindu house. When a Hindu boy tried to chase the cow away, a few Muslims beat him up 41 Hindua, 41 Muslims one incident of stinging a Hindu butt on 1968Karimganj, Assam division LocationCommunities/Organizati ons involved/Reasons Communal riots between Hindus and Muslims occurred near the Jagannath synagogue in family line. The riots pass around to 25 more localities, in whi ch most 512 persons doomed their lives. It is allege that handbills calling for a religious war were shell outd to the rioters by the Jan Sangh and the RSS.Casualties groundless 512 hurt examination deputation rightness P.Jaganmoha n Reddy resultant role Remarks Ahmadabad the butchery was caused by rumors, patrikas physical compositions on blackboards and inflammatory intelligence in mildewationpaper reports recomm finish that the special branch of the Gujarat jurisprudence needed to be reorganized.Bhiwandi, Maharashtra Jalgaon, Maharashtra Hindus traced the disturbances to the molestation of a married Hindu woman by some Muslim callowness.. may 197017 Hindus, 59 Muslims 1 Hindu, 42 Muslims D. P. Madan counsel of examination D. P. Madan centering of enquiry the MTM and Rashtriya Utsav Mandal shared out joint responsibility for the riots report held that there was no such incident. The missionary work said that practice of law officials with the help of some Hin dus invented the story at a much posterior stage.The Congress was not far behind in spreading communal feelings. Most Congressmen participated directly or indirectly in the riots and callight-emitting diode the Muslims anti-national. The Hindu Dharma Rakshak Samiti was make at this time. Its members were largely middle class Hindus. Ahmedabads textile industry, which provided largescale employment opportunities for Hindus and Muslims, was facing a crisis, and there was strong aspiration between 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 arrested later on the riot The mean solar day the riots occurred, 8th May, all the senior officers were out of town. Another immediate argue for the riot was a quarrel that took place at a pan shop at Rath Chowk between a Muslim and some Hindus. socio-economic class LocationCommunit ies/Organizations involved/Reasons riots skint out subsequently theannouncement of the Bhiwandi riots over alone India Radio. in Nonari, the riots began on 15 November after(prenominal)wards Muslims murdered a Harijan leader a crowd of 10,000 attacked Muslim houses and shops and started looting and arson. In Sajni on 12 declination, a crowd of 5000 started looting and arson after a few Muslim boys tried to molest a Hindu Brahmin girl of another resolution. A Hindu boy, who was beaten up by the Muslims, saved the girl rumor was spread the that the Hindu girl was raped riots started when students from the Anglo-Bengali College and young men from the adjoining neck of the woods of Muslim weavers clashed over the question of whether the spreading of yarn by weaver boys on a part of a playground was restricting the space available for students to playCasualties shortly Injured 9 Hindus, 6 Muslims Inquiry fit D. P. Madan bursting charge of Inquiry subject Remarks May 1970 Mahad , Maharashtracriticized the political parties for exploiting communal feelings. in Nonari, 107 houses of Muslims were steal and 76 were set on fire November 1972Nonari and Sajni, Uttar Pradesh October 1977 Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh Muslims were stabbed after being dragged out of a cinema hall and some(prenominal) injureThe patrol instigated the riots by going to the Muslim locality and beating up the weavers. This take to a worsening of the situation and mystify on clashes taking place. In another incident the jurisprudence did not make proper arrangements when a Hindu hike was crossing a Muslim locality. The law, instead of going at the miscreants in the stabbing incident, started firing on the Muslims. year Location Communities/Organizati ons involved/Reasons Casualties nonviable 23 Hindus, 2 Muslims Injured Inquiry armorial bearing response Remarks March 1978 Sambhal, Uttar Pradesha big trading centre for smugglers and bootleggers. There was trade aspiration between the Hindus and the Muslims who wanted to dispossess the Hindus oftheir property. Commerce in Aligarh revolves around the jail industry, which is own by rich Muslims. But there is also the growing of the Muslim workers by these owners. Every time a riot occurs the shut up owners come out as protectors of the Muslim workers and thereafter continue their using of the workers. The Hindu traders, who are followers of the Jan Sangh, had control over the raw materials for the helix industry. The Hindu traders also 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 then Chief Minster of the state, started addressing Ganesh ascendings, after this incident for political gains.October 1978Aligarh, Uttar Pradesh immediate reason for this particular riot was the murder of a Hindu. A cost increase was led beging the punishment of the murderer but vio lence erupted when the lift was crossing the Muslim populated area. During the riots the ruling party office bearers used strong-arm methods to fix the release of some antisocials arrested by the police as a duty tour measure. a particular group started throwing stones on a Ganesh rise consisting of 2000 mess. phratry 1978Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh Year LocationCommunities/Organizati ons involved/Reasons a joint impedenavmi lift passed by dint of an area which had a significant population of both Muslims and adivasis. The local MLA played an active role in provoking the riots.Casualties Dead long hundred killed, more than half were Muslims Injured Inquiry Commission Jitendra Narain Commission of InquiryResult Remarks April 1979 Jamshedpur, Bihar concluded that the RSS, with its extensive organization in Jamshedpur and attached links with the BJP and the BMS, had a hand in creating a climate propitious for the outbreak of these disturbances. It advertize said that not a sin gle Hindu was killed by the Bihar military patrol in 22 hours of firing resorted to by the police for quelling the riots. The population of Moradabad is evenly distributed between Hindus and Muslims. The towns brassware industry is the main source of its income. Most of the artisans in the industry are Muslims, but the traders and exporters of the washed-up products are Hindus. There has been a long standing contestation between the Muslims in this area and the Valmikis, traditionalisticly sweepers. Constant clashes occur between them over land, and the straying of pig its into the Muslim locality. riots in Moradabad was followed by Biharsharif, Merrut, Baroda, Bhiwandi, Pune and Sholapur. The political action committee played 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 people, 2000 including many young children, died in a stampede at the Idgah. The riot oc curred on this particular purpose when a police constable on duty refused to chase a pig when asked by Muslims in the Idgah. A fleck of Harijan slums and Muslim refugee camps were attacked.Year Location Communities/Organizati ons involved/Reasons a quarrel in a toddy shop owned by a Harijan. The trouble erupted in the Gagandiwan village having a majority Muslim population. There was also traditional rivalry between the Hindus and Muslims over a piece of land which both claimed as their own. dispute over a Shiv temple and a Mazaar in two adjoining buildings in the highly clarified Shahghasa area Casualties Dead around 80 Injured Inquiry Commission Balasubraman ian Commission set up by the Bihar GovernmentResult Remarks April 1981 Biharsharif, Bihar failure of the intelligence machinery and the zone presidential term misleading the higher authorities by not providing a amend assessment.The police did not take effective action to control the clash, which ended in rioting. The sp read of false rumors affected the other villages in Biharsharif. The halt of the RSS and the Jammat-e-Islami in these areas further change magnitude the violenceSeptember 1982In the elections that took place before the riots, a Muslim MLA was elected, displacing the BJP candidate. briefly after, the riots stone-skint out over a trivial issue. Outside forces, which included the Shahi Imam of Delhis Jama Masjid and some BJP leading joined the fray. The worst sufferers of the riots were the Ansaris, Muslim weavers.YearLocationCommunities/Organizati ons involved/Reasons communal clashes occurred when the Dussera and Muharram coincided. The liquor traders from both communities loot and clashed with each other. The discussion of the transfer of the Hindu Police Commissioner due to pressure from the Muslim familiarity 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 stu dy 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 Dead 17 Injured 50Inquiry CommissionResultRemarkscelestial latitude 1982Baroda, Gujarat later on the 1969 communal riots, Baroda had witnessed a delibe identify boycott of Muslim shops and establishments, which led to deterioration in the economic condition of the Muslims. There was also 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, Karnataka collar months before the riots a Harijan women was raped by three Muslim youths and it was the communal, brieflyer than the criminal aspect of the problem, that re ceived 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 militant Hindus to take revenge. Soon after, trouble erupted leading to large-scale damage to Muslim property. Communal disturbances in Malur were unknown before the advent of the RSS.Year LocationCommunities/Organizati ons involved/Reasons The bursting of zestful before the Jama Masjid to celebrate the victory of the Indian Cricket squad in the World Cup led to communal riots Casualties Dead Injured Inquiry Commission Result Remarks June 1983 Malegaon, Maharashtra October 1983 Hazaribagh, Bihar promotion led by Hindus off idle after Muslims stopped it near the Jama Masjidtrade rivalry between the Hindus and the Muslims is marked. The Muslim loom-owners sold only to Muslims, which affected the profits of Hindu traders. Cow slaughter 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 then Chief Minister, A.R.Antulay, floated the idea of constructing a martyrs memorialization 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 agitation by the Muslims at that time also for dropping a chapter from the standard VIII history text edition where it was verbalise that the Prophet Mohammad fled to Mecca caused by negligence by the local authorities while local political leaders persuaded the members of both the communities to start the Moharram procession and the Chaitra Ramnavmi procession to spread communal harmony, the actual intention of these leaders was to gain political advantage ou t of the situation. The Police inspite of being well conscious(predicate) 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 stony-broke 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 formed in 1985. In 1999, the Justice Nanavati Commission began its investigations.Jaggannath Misra Commission recommended that the Delhi administration investigate the conduct of the delinquent police The results of the Nanavati Inquiry Commission revealed that the police force played a vital role in instigating violence.The BJP, RSS, VHP and the MIM orison to communal 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 urban center. 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 destroyed 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 f igures. The pattern of these riots showed that they were organized and planned against a particular club and the many senior Congress leaders were assert to have participated in the anti-Sikh riots. The main accused 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 court which acquitted 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 death sentence on five Muslims charged with the killing of 8 persons during the riots.There is large-scale distress 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 objection the reservation policy by the upper caste leaders. This at last led to the b urning down of their houses and destruction of their property.July 1986 Ahmedabad violence broke out during the historic Rath Yatra procession through the walled city areas. Disturbances started after the annual Rath Yatra of churchman Jagannath was subjected to a heavy stone throwing barrage in the sensitive Dariapur and Kalupur localitiesYear 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 beatified 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 occasion of Milad-un Nabi, the Prophets day. The procession was acquittance through the streets of Indore when two explosions took place leading to confusion a nd then the riots broke out.7 Hindus, 20 MuslimsThe PAC had killed a number of young men and thrown their bodies into a canal during these riots. The media however played a autocratic role in uncovering the communal role played by the PAC in killing innocent people. In April 1995 that the Mulayam Singh Government proclaimed that the 19 guilty policemen would be prosecuted. The lower-middle class, the middle strata of the population had participated in large numbers in these riots, while large section of the Harijans attacked localities inhabited by the Muslims. In some areas the rioting was between the Harijans and Muslims. The mere presence of the PAC in Muslim majority mohallas created a feeling of insecurity among the Muslims, while Hindus wanted the deployment of PAC in their localities. There was a wave of communal violence that took place in Kota, Badaun, Bhagalpur, Ratlam, Mhow, Khargone, Khambat, Palanpur and some(prenominal) other places. result of communal politics play ed 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 of 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 totalpopulation 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 encourage the BJP and the Congress leaders to exploit the situation to their benefit. several(prenominal) 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 participation of a number of Akhadas which were a part of the VHP, RSS and the Shiv Sena. De spite warnings the administration did not make proper arrangements at the time of the procession. riots occurred during the Ram Navami processionCasualties Dead Injured Inquiry Commission Result Remarks September 1989Kota, Rajasthan The Muslims in Kota are poor, invite out for the Bohra Muslims who are a business alliance. 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 CPI (M), there have been more strikes and militant trade union actions. Thus, the relations between the Hindus and the Muslims ceased to be social 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 Muslims. The Marwaris employ some Muslims and there is a long standing dispute between the employers and the workers on the decree of pay scales. During these riots the Muslims looted the Marwari shops and destroy them. The Muslims who had earlier voted for the Congress in the 80s switched their loyalties to the Janata decaliter. 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 30th October 1990 aggravated the communal automated teller machine in the country. Communal riots occur red in the wake of L.K.Advanis Rath Yatra wherever it went.. These riots were led by RSS-BJP men to merge theHindu vote bank. They were widespread over almost all the states from Assam to westmost Bengal, Bihar, Orissa, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Gujarat, Maharashtra and D elhi. Year Location Communities/Organizati ons involved/Reasons nearly 1four hundred 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 proceed 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 soon after 41 the Rath Yatra was started from Somna thRajasthan October 1990 October 1990 Jaipur Jodhpur, Rajasthan abhor campaign organized 52 by the BJP since the Rath Yatra started from Somnath VHP, BJP and Bajrang 20 Dal called for a Jodhpur bandh to dissent the arrest of L.K.Advani 100+Uttar PradeshFrom the morning of the bandh, BJP leaders including MLAs terrorized a section of the people by using physical force and provocative slogans, which resulted in communal violence. The administration shielded the miscreants but adopted antiMuslim postures. Curfew was imposed 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 tense due to the Rath Yatra by L.K.Advani. The incident that led to riots was the stabbing of a scooter rider. 20 to 22 similar incidents occurred during the same time at different places. The city was a v ictim of communal riots thrice within a year.31 mostly Muslims army had to be deployed. But condescension its presence it became difficult to bring the situation under control and the riots became a regular feature for the next 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 meeting which was right in front of a thickly populated Muslim area. 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 whirl of a Kali Temple which for a very long time was ordinarily owned by all the communities and used for all public functions. The District Magistrate, Halakandi at that time was a Muslim and the BJP exploited 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 Deputy Imam 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 rise as soon as VHP, RSS and BJP organized pujas to purify the bricks for Shilayas at Ayodhya. The continuous migration of people from Bangladesh also instigates violence between the two communitiesIn an effort to c retrogress Jai Mandir Cinema hall, a skirmish erupted between students and its employees. The RSS and BJP gave this beautiful incident a communal angle. The administration formed tranquillity committees to maintain communal harmony. The pause 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 sextett e years but the members was not unanimous in their findings of the riot. While 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. Many Muslims are either weavers or in the powerloom business. Some 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 emer ged during the dispute between the Hindus and the Muslims in the celebration of their festivals. The super of Police played a blatant partisan role during the riots. Along with Bhagalpur city around 206 villages were affected. 3000 powerlooms were looted and burnt. 1100 Hindus and 900 Muslims arrested 7 houses and 5 shops burnt and 8 Mosques disgraced large scale damage to property. riots here go on for 5 old age in which a Mosque was destroyed and a Temple desecrated.Year Location Communities/Organizati ons involved/Reasons Casualties Dead 60 Injured Inquiry Commission slowdown Report 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 belonging 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 C hief 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 ignite communal passions. The MIM too joined the fray. It was assumed that the sea wolf 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 killing migrant construction 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 resignation 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 frenzy on the occasion of Muharram. The frequent riots in the city are a result of communal politics. Moreover, the city is very foul with Hindus and the Muslims living almost in segregation. There is a high rate of unemployment, poverty 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 option Day when the Hindus allegedly prevented the Muslims from voting 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 idol was disquieted 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 tu rned entrepreneurs and are prosperous. The present phase of riots in Benaras is also a result of the growing competition between the prosperous Muslim entrepreneurs and traditional Hindu traders. The police force in Benaras after the Ram Janmabhoomi contingency 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 Dal candidate received the Muslim and Dalit 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/Org anizati ons involved/Reasons A bandh was called by a Muslim organization which did not have much of a following among the Muslims. The bandh was followed by the damaging of a dyeing 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 mainly into the trading business, and have a finishing business relationship 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 culture have settled in the city. The hate 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 rio ts. The expressive style in which large scale looting and burnings took place revealed that the riots were pre-planned. Inquiry Commission Result Remarks December 1992 Surat Year LocationCommunities/Organizati ons involved/Reasons the repeated showing of the debris 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 frenzy and organizing attacks on Muslims. On the role of the Congress government in theState, the Commission observed that inefficient political leadership, vacillation for political reasons and conflicting orders issued to the Commission er of Police resulted in a dilemma to shoot or not to shoot. 30,000 Muslims were displaced. On 9th December mobs of Hindu men entered Muslim homes, ransacked their belongings, often killing 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 shock 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 National Minorities CommissionThe bomb was planted by a Muslim youth who was also responsib le for planting a bomb in the RSS office in August 1993 when 13 people were killed. 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 sooner 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 become communally sensitive after the BJP expanded its political base here. It did not have a away history of communal riots A place of worship was damaged in the riots and fishing equipment worth several lakhs destroyed The Muslims alleged that the police were a silent spectator. matchless of the Samajwadi Party leaders alleged that the violence was designed to punish the SP workers by the Mayawati government. Though the village Rajputs supported defusing 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 ultimately 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 co rrupt state of affairs further aids in the occurrence of communal violence In Madras stones were pelted on Muslims who were crack 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 outcome of the Lok Sabha elections which were to take place. Kanpur has also been communally volatile 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 Prime Minister Inder Kumar Gujral alleged that the police entered the Dargah with their shoes on and lathi charged the people offering prayers and also fired in the air.Year Location Communities/Organizati 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 lapse on the part of the police personnel, deputed for surveillan e and checks, who ought to have discharged their duties more rigorously, vigilantly and intelligently.May 1998Moradabad, University Press Rioting broke out after an acid 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 berserk 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 atta ck 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 discernment 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 dis tributing these pamphlets surrendered, and there were 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 between Hindu girls and Muslim boys are opposed by these organizations and Christians too have come under attack in many parts of Gujarat. Some 200 copies of the Bible 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 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 system by attacking churches.December 1998 January 1999CM JH.Patel ordered an inquiry The Wadhwa Commissionconcluded that Dara Singh was responsible for the 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 anniversary 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, there 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. About 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 stoned 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 circuitCasualties 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 march 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 Assembly 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. Over 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 sp read communal poison over 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 bel onging to the minority community were beaten 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 sooner 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. Four Ba jrang Dal activists were arrested for inciting violence.13, including 3 in police firing Year LocationCommunities/Organizati ons involved/Reasons the burning at Godhra, of a coach 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 slaughter 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 Assembly elections in December, 2002.February 2002 Kaithal, Haryana linked to the Gujarat violence Marc h 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 feeble 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 t urned violent Casualties Dead 9 Injured 115 Inquiry Commission Result Remarks October 2002 Sholapur, MaharashtraThe protestors went in procession after prayers on Friday 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 Similar 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 Author B Rajeshwari is a Research Scholar at the Center for Political Studies, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi. She is writing her MPhil dissertation titled Power, Knowledge and Globalisation A Case knowledge of TRIPS. Her research interests include issues relating to Communal Violence, Governance and Development. Currently she is Research jockstrap at the Institute of Peace and Conflict Studies.