Haryana Violence: What Led To Communal Clashes?
Nuh Violence: What triggered communal tension in Haryana? Explained.
The Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) and Bajrang Dal carried out a religious procession in police presence in Nuh, Haryana on 31st July 2023. The rally's participants were taking out the procession in buses, cars, bikes and walking. After Jalabhishek at Nalhareshwar temple located in Nuh, it was to reach a Shiva temple at Ferozepur-Jhirka via Barkali Chowk. According to the police, when the yatra reached Barkali Chowk at 1 pm, a Muslim mob allegedly stopped them, participants were pelted with stones, and a couple of cars in the procession were also set ablaze. Initially, this forced a huge number of Hindus to take shelter inside a temple but later they retaliated. Reportedly, five people were killed and over 200 injured in Nuh's communal clashes.
As violence broke out, 1 police officer was shot in the head, and 1 in the stomach. They both are undergoing treatment, while home guards Neeraj and Gursevak and three civilians died. Some reports claimed that the violence was triggered following rumors that Bajrang Dal leader Monu Manesar would attend the procession organized by VHP. Manesar is allegedly linked to the February killings of two Muslim men in Haryana's Bhiwani. This became the center of the violence. However, Monu Manesar did not participate on the advice of the VHP, which feared that his presence would create tension.
More than 2,500 persons including women and children were evacuated by police from the Shiva temple in Nuh. These apparently included devotees and those who had taken shelter there as the two sides clashed.
Curfew has been imposed in Nuh till 2nd August. 20 companies of the Central Armed Police Force (CAPF) were deployed in the area until 8th August. The violence escalated as the evening progressed -- a mosque was torched post-midnight, more than a hundred vehicles were torched and vandalised as mobs went on rampage. As news of the violence spread, several vehicles and shops were torched in adjoining Gurugram's Sohna. Nearly 200 men on motorbikes and SUVs targeted and few set ablaze hotels and mainly biryani shops and food stalls. Violence then spread to Palwal, Faridabad and other districts of Haryana. The miscreants set fire to whatever vehicle they saw on the road within three kilometers. More than 500 people rammed a bus and broke the wall of the cyber police station. Dial 112 vehicles parked there were burnt. They entered the police station, broke furniture and tried to set it on fire. In some places shops were set on fire after looting. 200 bikes from Hero bike showroom were looted, showroom ransacked and employees beaten up. In view of this, Section 144 has been implemented in 9 districts. Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar said the situation had been brought under control by the central and state security forces. Moreover, 44 FIRs have been lodged, and 70 people have been detained in connection with the clashes.
He said that the Nuh incident is unfortunate. I appeal to all the people to maintain peace in the state. The guilty will not be spared. Strictest action will be taken. Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) has termed the violence as pre-planned. They claimed that stones were already kept in trucks on the route of the yatra and petrol bombs, which had been prepared in advance, were used to set fire to the vehicles. The Gurugram Police urged people to stay at home and not believe rumours. On 1st August , peace committee meetings were held in Nuh and Sohna by the district administration. The meetings included locals from both communities to discuss issues concerning anti-social elements. The officials said the committees would meet daily till the administration feels the situation on the ground is back to normal. Some multinational corporations, like American Express and KPMG, have advised employees to work from home. Several schools and colleges too were kept closed. Haryana's violence has affected the neighbouring states as well. An alert has been issued in Bharatpur, Rajasthan. Internet services have been stopped in 4 areas.
