2023 Haryana Riots

On 31 July 2023, communal violence erupted in the Nuh district of Haryana between Muslims and Hindus during an annual Brajmandal Yatra pilgrimage organised by the Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP). By the evening of the same day, fresh incidents of communal violence were reported from Gurugram and Sohna. As of 3 August 2023, the situation had resulted in at least seven fatalities and over 200 reported injuries.

The violence started during the annual Brajmandal Yatra pilgrimage through the Muslim-majority district of Nuh; the Muslim community was angered when it was announced that the procession would include Bajrang Dal activist and cow vigilante Monu Manesar, who is wanted by the police as a suspect in the murder of two Muslim men though the man did not show up at the procession. Upon hearing that Monu Manesar was attending a religious procession, the local Muslim community organized an attack on the procession, and from 21 July to 23 July met to "lay out a plan to attack the yatra". They executed their attack on the procession on 31 July, pelting it with stones, bottles, and molotov cocktails. This triggered retaliatory actions from the Hindu procession participants. The Hindus taking part in the procession were forced to flee to a nearby temple, which was then besieged by rioters armed with guns, who fired upon the temple. The police believe this attack was premeditated and well-organized.

In response, the government imposed a curfew, suspended Internet services, and sent extra paramilitary troops to the region to prevent a further outbreak of violence. Calm and order were said to have been restored on 8 August 2023.

The Brajmandal Yatra in Haryana's Nuh was initiated by the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) three years ago to revive sacred Hindu sites in the district. Nuh, previously known as Mewat, is believed to be home to three ancient Shiva lingas from the time of the Pandavas in the Mahabharata, and Krishna used to graze his cows here. VHP leaders claim that these sites are under threat of encroachment by influential individuals in the region. The Mewat Darshan Yatra, which is part of the Brajmandal Yatra, aims to restore the significance of these religious sites. Hindus make up about 20.37% of the district's population and devotees from other Haryana districts also participate in the yatra. The yatra commences in Sohna and begins with a ceremonial "jal (water) abhishek" at the Nalhar Mahadev Temple, which is an ancient temple located near Nuh town. The yatra then proceeds to visit other temples in the region, including the Jhirakeshwar Mahadev and Radha Krishna Temple in Shrangar village and the Shringeshwar Mahadev Temple. There were around 25,000 participants in the yatra, including organizations such as the Bharatiya Gau Raksha Dal and the Bajrang Dal.

Nuh is part of the Mewat region, home to the Meo community who converted to Islam during the Muslim period. Mewat was one of the few regions to retain a significant Muslim population after Indian independence, with Muslims accounting for 79.2% of the population in 2011. Many Hindutva leaders, including Bhartiya Janata Party MLA Madan Dilawar, have accused the district of being a "mini-Pakistan"; these comments have been condemned by others. According to The Quint, many local police accused the Muslims in the district of being not loyal to India. Social media campaigns have spread hatred toward local Muslims, accusing them of kidnapping and sexually assaulting female residents.

Cow slaughter is illegal in Haryana, and punishable by up to ten years in prison. In recent years, the Mewat region has seen increased communal tension due to the issue of illegal cow slaughter and gau rakshaks (lit. 'Cow protectors'). Since 2014, incidents of cow vigilantism have increased in the district. The murder of Pehlu Khan, who was from Nuh, by cow vigilantes in the adjacent Alwar district gained national headlines. Several Mahapanchayats have been held in Nuh district calling for anti-Muslim violence. More recently in February 2023, 2 Meo Muslim men from Bharatpur district in Rajasthan, Junaid and Nasir, suspected of cattle smuggling, were allegedly lynched near Loharu by a mob led by cow vigilante and Hindutva activist Monu Manesar. The murders provoked mass protests in the town of Ferozepur Jhirka, near to the city of Nuh, calling for the arrest of the accused and an end to cow vigilantism. Communal tension increased with a Mahapanchayat held in Hathin in the nearby Palwal district in support of Monu Manesar, which featured calls for anti-Muslim violence.

The attacks began when a Vishva Hindu Parishad's, Brajmandal Yatra, which had passed through Nuh for the past three years, was stopped by a mob in Nuh's Khedla Mod and attacked with stones. Cars, homes, and shops of the local Hindu community were set ablaze by the mob, and at around 14:00, roughly 2,500 Hindus including BD (Bajrang Dal) and VHP (Vishwa Hindu Parishad) members fled to a nearby Nulhar Mahadev temple for shelter. While in the temple they were attacked by the mob, who shot at them with guns, and pelted stones. They were surrounded in the temple by the rioters for about five hours before police reinforcement from five districts were able to rescue them. According to The Wire the Nuh temple priest disputes the claim that people were "held hostage" at the Nalhar Mahadev temple. The temple priest recalled that:

"The violence started growing and by 4 PM, our temple had at least 3,000 to 4,000 people taking shelter in the courtyard…it was very difficult to reassure them that they will be safe inside the temple as they thought some or the other miscreant might break in and start targeting them"

Nuh District Inspector Vishvajeet (CID) reported that as soon as rumours about Monu Manesar attending the yatra started spreading, the residents (all men aged 17–22) quickly assembled and set off on bikes for the yatra route.

Rioters also rammed a bus into the cyber police station of Nuh, which has gained a notorious reputation as a cybercrime hotspot in the country. Vishvajeet, disclosed that the measures taken by the police station had caused frustration and resentment among the local villagers. He mentioned that rigorous enforcement of cybercrime law and cow slaughter prohibition has caused various problems for the villagers. These factors led the locals to inquire about the motives behind the frequent police raids on their homes. The cars outside the police station were set on fire. Other locations, such as Nuh bus stand, Nuh market, and Nuh grain market were also attacked by the rioters using rocks. A shopkeeper reported that the rioters in Nuh had robbed his store, stealing over ₹500,000 (US$6,300).

In retaliation for initiating the violence, over 1,200 homes and shops were bulldozed in a Muslim-majority area in Haryana, resulting in accusations of "ethnic cleansing".

Premeditation

Police investigators stated that the riots were well planned ahead of time, stating that between 21 July and 23 July, over a week before the attacks, people had organized into WhatsApp group chats to "lay out a plan to attack the yatra". These plans included assigning duties in the riots, including throwing stones and throwing glass bottles. According to the police informants related to the case, the groups had collected more than 3,000 bottles and rocks ahead of time. According to Hindustan Times report, the rioters had allegedly arranged more than 200 bikes and painted over registration plates to avoid being identified by the police. Police raids have recovered "huge" volumes of stones and explosives.

Gurugram

Despite the border to Nuh having been sealed, violence spread to Gurugram. A crowd of approximately 500 rioters began pelting stones and torching shops and cars in the Sohna region.

The clashes in Nuh incited retaliation in Gurugram. On 1 August 2023, the 22-year-old deputy Imam Mohammad Saad of the Anjuman Jama mosque in Gurugram was killed. Allegedly, a mob of nearly 100 people broke into the under-construction mosque at Sector 57 and set it ablaze. This mosque was the only one in New Gurugram on government-allocated land. The mob reportedly stabbed Saad in the neck, chest, and abdomen, and also injured a caretaker named Mohammad Khurshid. According to the FIR filed by Station House Officer (SHO) Satish Kumar, he and six other police officers were on duty near the Anjuman Mosque. The FIR further states that the police attempted to halt the mob, but the mob attacked them. The mob also hurled stones at them and even opened fire at the officers. The deputy imam, Mohammed Saad, who was standing in for the chief imam, sustained 13 stab wounds, including a slit throat, resulting in his death. The Shahi Masjid in Sohna was allegedly vandalised by a mob of 70-100 men. The mosque's Imam, his family and a group of 10-12 children studying at the madrasa inside escaped unhurt as members of Sikh community intervened and conducted a rescue operation.

The violence in Nuh, which had now spread to several areas of Gurugram, encompassed attacks on numerous commercial properties. Over 200 Muslim families have been compelled to vacate their homes due to threats from right-wing outfits. On the evening of August 1, 2023, shops in Gurugram's Sector 70A and Sector 66 were set ablaze. Simultaneously, Bajrang Dal members organized a rally in Haryana's Bahadurgarh city, where they chanted hateful slogans such as "Desh ke gaddaron ko, Goli maaro saalon ko" ("Shoot the traitors of our country"). This chant was widely used by BJP politicians against Muslims during the anti-Citizenship Amendment Act protests in 2019 and 2020.

When speaking in the Haryana Legislative Assembly in February 2023, Ferozepur Jhirka MLA, Mamman Khan, displayed photographs depicting acts of violence allegedly by the cow vigilante, Monu Manesar.

"This Monu Manesar got his pictures clicked with Amit Shah at one place, with Arun Jaitley at another. Does he want to scare the Mewatis by showing that he is a big man? If he dares visit Mewat again, he will be crushed like onions.” - Mamman Khan

This speech was not considered of any major significance until the riots took place in July. Ferozepur Jhirka MLA Mamman Khan was accused for instigating violence in the Nuh by the Home Minister of Haryana, Anil Vij.

“A sitting MLA of the Congress, Mamman Khan, has been given a notice by police to join the investigation. He will be questioned. The investigations, so far, have indicated that he was in contact with certain people who were involved in the violence,” - Anil Vij

Anil Vij also stated that It was also reported that violence took place at all such spots that were visited by Mamman Khan on July 28, 29, and 30. The Chief Minister of Haryana, Manohar Lal Khattar, also indirectly mentioned Mamman Khan when he said that “fingers are being pointed at some other Congress MLAs” in connection with the Nuh violence and added that absence of a response from the opposition party certainly proves that “something is suspicious". A day before the violence in Nuh, it was also alleged that Mamman Khan had posted on ‘X’, formerly Twitter:

"The people of Mewat need not panic, fought for you in the assembly, will fight here too”. - Mamman Khan on X (formerly Twitter)

The tweet was deleted later. Mamman Khan was called in front of the Special Investigation Team for an investigation into his involvement in the 2023 Haryana Riots to the Nagina village police station in Nuh, Haryana. However, he failed to appear. The DSP of Ferozepur Jhirka and the head of the Special Investigation Team reportedly said that he would send Mamman Khan a notice again and call him to join the investigation. After avoiding the team twice, Mamman Khan was eventually arrested on 15 September 2023 in Rajasthan and Section 144 of the Criminal Procedure Code for Unlawful assembly was applied to the Nuh District of Haryana on that day. Mamman Khan was released on interim bail on October 3, 2023 and was then released on regular bail on October 18th 2023.

6 months proceeding the Nuh violence, Mamman Khan was later charged under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act. Police had earlier accused Khan of inciting violence and being in touch with those involved in sharing provocative posts on social media platforms. Besides, he also faces some other charges in the FIR. This decision was heavily opposed by Bhupinder Singh Hooda and other members of the Indian National Congress.

The Government of Haryana banned all mobile Internet and SMS services in Nuh district until 2 August 2023. A curfew was imposed in Nuh district. The sale of petrol/diesel was banned, following the use of these chemicals in makeshift explosives by the rioters. Internet was also restricted in Palwal, Manesar and Pataudi. Alerts have been issued for 11 districts in western Uttar Pradesh, especially Mathura, which shares a border with Nuh.

The Haryana Police announced compensation of ₹5,700,000 (US$71,000) each for the families of the two Home Guard officers, Neeraj Khan and Gursev Singh, who were killed.

Over 116 people were arrested in connection to the riots.

The National Commission for Protection of Child Rights has requested an inquiry into the engagement of children in stone pelting and other illicit activities during the recent communal unrest in the Nuh district of Haryana.

The Haryana government sanctioned land to be created for a new Central Reserve Police Force's anti-riot unit Rapid Action Force to be stationed in Nuh. In addition, the headquarters of the IRB 2nd Battalion has been shifted to Nuh.

Haryana Urban Development Authority demolished over 200 illegal shanties that were housing migrant workers from Bangladesh in Taoru town, near Nuh.

Statements by politicians

According to Nuh MLA Aftab Ahmed, the riots were planned ahead of time, and the Yatris had used social media to provoke it. Punahana MLA Mohammad Ilyas also stated similarly that videos has been circulating that had been inciting the public four days before the procession. Former Nuh MLA Habib Ur Rehman stated that the Nuh violence is due to the failure of the BJP-Jannayak Janta Party (JJP) government in power and the riots could have easily been prevented. Former Nuh MLA and BJP leader, Zakir Hussain also stated that it was a conspiracy to bring a bad name to Mewat, and that it was the handiwork of outsiders from both sides.

Manohar Lal Khattar, Chief Minister of Haryana, stated that there was a "well thought out conspiracy behind the clashes". Amid communal tensions in Haryana, state Home Minister. Anil Vij, stated that action will be taken against Monu Manesar and accused Ferozepur Jhirka MLA Mamman Khan for his involvement in the riots.

Union Minister and Gurugram MP, Rao Inderjit Singh, expressed apprehensions regarding the Nuh violence, wherein he raised inquiries about the factors that led to provocation from both sides. He particularly questioned the presence of swords and sticks during a religious procession, acknowledging the possibility of provocation from the opposing party as well.

According to the Deputy Chief Minister of Haryana, Dushyant Chautala, the organizers of the Shobha Yatra, including VHP and its affiliated organizations, failed to provide the administration with accurate information.

Two Hindus taking part in the religious procession, One Abhishek Chauhan, Abhishek and his brother had come to Nuh for the procession, and were exiting the Shiv Mandir in Nalhar when they were attacked by a mob armed with guns, swords and stones. Abhishek's brother states that just as the mob started beating people his brother was shot. He tried to carry his wounded brother to safety but a man attacked them with a sword. The other, Pradeep Sharma, was attacked by the mob when they saw his kalava and succumbed to his injuries at a Delhi hospital. A third fatality, a bystander, Shakti Singh, was also killed by the mob in Nuh. A deputy imam of a Gurugram mosque named Mohammad Saad was also fatally attacked by a group. Furthermore, several other individuals who had taken shelter in the mosque sustained serious injuries.

Two Home Guard officers, namely Neeraj Khan and Home Guard Gursev Singh, were killed. Eight of the injured police personnel were transported to Gurugram's Medanta Hospital. Among the wounded, Hodal Deputy Superintendent of Police Sajjan Singh sustained a gunshot wound to the head, and an inspector was injured in the stomach.

Haryana's Home Minister, Anil Vij, stated that social media has played a major role in escalating the violence in Nuh. To address this issue, the state government has established a three-member committee responsible for monitoring social media activities starting from July 21. According to an official statement, platforms like Facebook, Twitter, WhatsApp, and others will undergo close examination and scrutiny for any posts that may incite violence. Home Minister Anil Vij made this statement as part of the measures taken to address the issue of provocative content on social media related to the violence in Nuh.

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• 2023 Manipur violence
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