August 3, 2023
In a tragic escalation of communal violence, five people, including two home guards, lost their lives in an attack in Muslim-dominated Nuh, Haryana. The violence further spilled over into neighboring Gurugram, where clashes between two groups resulted in at least six deaths. The situation has prompted the Haryana government to seek additional paramilitary forces from the central government to restore order in the affected areas.
The unrest, which began in Nuh and spread to Gurugram, saw mobs setting five godowns ablaze and ransacking two meat shops in Gurugram district. Although the police have attempted to respond swiftly, the mobs often disperse before their arrival.
In the aftermath of the initial violence, further incidents occurred, including the torching of ‘jhuggis’ and a tea shop, as well as ransacking huts in a slum. A Bajrang Dal activist, Pradeep Sharma, tragically succumbed to his injuries in a Delhi hospital after being injured during an attack on a Vishva Hindu Parishad Yatra near Khedla Mod in Nuh.
As tensions continued to mount, a mosque in Gurugram was targeted, resulting in the death of a cleric. Four individuals have been arrested so far in connection with this attack. Following these incidents, the Vishva Hindu Parishad and Bajrang Dal staged protests in several parts of Delhi, causing a major traffic jam at the Haryana border and disrupting movement between Delhi and Faridabad.
In response to the escalating situation, the Supreme Court intervened, ordering enhanced deployment of security personnel in sensitive areas and a crackdown on hate speech. However, the Court did not ban proposed rallies by the two Hindu groups in Delhi and the National Capital Region.
Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar has taken steps to address the situation, seeking four more companies of central forces from the Centre and announcing the deployment of a battalion of Haryana-based India Reserve Battalion. He stated that 116 people have been arrested, and 90 others detained in the state, with 41 cases registered in connection with the violence.
Despite police assurances of protection, Muslim migrant workers in some areas reported receiving threats and have expressed fears for their safety. Some have even decided to leave the city until the situation improves.
The root cause of the violence remains a subject of debate, with Chief Minister Khattar and Deputy Chief Minister Dushyant Chautala offering differing perspectives. Chautala suggested that the Nuh incident may have been triggered by improper estimates of the expected turnout for a procession, while Khattar asserted that local authorities had held meetings with both sides, receiving assurances of a peaceful event.
Prohibitory orders remain in effect in Nuh, Gurugram, and other affected districts as authorities work to quell the violence and restore calm to the region. The nation watches closely as efforts to bring peace and justice continue amidst this challenging period of communal unrest.
