2013 Kishtwar Communal Clashes | ||||
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Date | 9 August 2013 | |||
Location | ||||
Caused by | Attempt to create communal disharmony for electoral gains | |||
Parties | ||||
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Casualties and losses | ||||
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The 2013 Kishtwar Riots, which claimed three lives and injured 80,[1][2] was a conflict between Muslim and Hindu communities in Kishtwar, Jammu and Kashmir. The riots occurred in the aftermath of the Eid festival on 9 August 2013, and provoked a significant government lockdown in the Jammu region. Despite that, the government was criticized for not preventing the riots.
The conflict started when a bike rider was trying to make their way through a procession of Muslims who were going for Eid prayers but they are not giving way out. The muslim reportedly began a heated argument with bike rider which are Hindu. This soon degenerated into a violent conflict between both religious communities. The riots led to the killing of two Hindus and one Muslim. Later, Muslim mobs moved through the market area, setting fire to the shops and homes of Hindus. Police were fired on from homes, leading to the confiscation of the weapons of Village Defence Committee members.[3][4][5] People involved in the clashes initially threw stones; later, shops and houses were gutted.[6] The situation was handled by the state government, who called in the army. The state government also prohibited the entry of politicians into affected areas, due to fears that the politicians' presence could further inflame tensions.[7]
The riots killed three, left 80 others injured, and gutted over 100 houses and business establishments (mainly belonging to Hindus).[8]
As of August 13, 2013, a total of 141 people had been taken into custody, in connection with the incidents.[19] Nearly 40 weapons looted from a Kishtwar arms shop remained missing.[20]
Administrative failure was cited as the reason for Kishtwar clashes. The Central Security establishment mentioned issues such as:[20]
The home ministry had issued an advisory asking the Government of Jammu and Kashmir to prevent violence from spreading further by deploying adequate forces in all parts of the state.
The reactions of some politicians are listed below in their original form.
"Oh that's right they can't because their star PM hopeful waited days to call out the army & has yet to apologise. Hypocrites."
"During such processions, some hot-headed people always make demands of 'azadi'. It happens virtually every Friday...Since information moves very fast these days, tension spread to other parts of the town. It became difficult for the police to control it. Then, the Army was called. The Army conducted a flag march at 5.30 pm and imposed strict curfews thereby bringing the situation under control."
"When the riots occurred in Gujarat in 2002, the Army was not allowed inside. No one from outside was allowed to enter Ahmedabad. And Gujarat is not a property of Modi."