2013 Kishtwar Communal Clashes
Date9 August 2013
Location
Kishtwar
Caused byAttempt to create communal disharmony for electoral gains
Parties
Muslims
Hindus
Police, Army
Casualties and losses
1 killed
2 killed

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.

Initial clashes

The conflict started when a Hindu bike rider was trying to make their way through a procession of Muslims who were going for Eid prayers. The bike rider reportedly began a heated argument with members of the procession. This soon degenerated into a violent conflict between both religious communities. The riots led to the killing of one Muslim and two Hindus. 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]

Aftermath

9 August

  • A curfew was immediately imposed on the area and several changes were made in the administrative positions.[2][6]

10 August

  • Clashes continued in Paddar, with three injured.[9]
  • The state government stopped traffic along the national highway from Lakhanpur to Banihal and towards Doda and Kishtwar.
  • Amarnath Yatra, a pilgrimage to the Amarnath Temple, was cancelled due to tensions in the district.[10]
  • The Government of Jammu and Kashmir announced ex-gratia relief of 500,000 rupees to the relatives of Aravind Kumar Bhagat.
  • Educational institutions remained closed.[11]

11 August

12 August

  • Fresh violence broke out in Hidyal village, part of Kishtwar, where a Muslim mob consisting of armed members attacked a Hindu neighborhood. 10 injured, including an ASP.[14]
  • Minister of State for Home Sajad Kichloo resigned.[15]

14 August

  • Almost 150 people were arrested, including some local Hurriyat leaders, as the police cracked down on miscreants responsible for violence in the region. Over 100 people involved in stone pelting and arson were arrested in several parts of the Jammu region.[16]
  • Internet services for mobile phone and Wi-Fi users remained suspended for the fourth day across Jammu and Kashmir. Internet speeds for broadband services were reduced to check the upload of objectionable material to social networking sites.[17]

15 August

  • The curfew was lifted in seven districts of the Jammu region, except for Kishtwar, where a 4-hour morning relaxation is given.[18]

Arrests

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

Administrative failure was cited as the reason for Kishtwar clashes. The Central Security establishment mentioned issues such as:[20]

  1. Low police strength.
  2. Possible failures in assessing the gravity of the situation, related to lack of staff during Eid.
  3. Failure to call in the two companies of Sashastra Seema Bal deployed in the area as reinforcement.
  4. No deployment of CRPF in the district. The CRPF, which had 60 companies in the state to maintain law and order, was called into Kishtwar on only the second day of the riots.

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.

Reactions

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."

— Omar Abdullah[21]

"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."

— P. Chidambaram[22]

"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."

— Farooq Abdullah[22]

References

  1. ↑ Ahmed Ali Fayyaz (11 June 2013). "Curfew imposed in Rajouri; Jaitley may be sent back from airport". The Hindu. Retrieved 13 August 2013.
  2. 1 2 Ahmed Ali Fayyaz (9 August 2013). "Kishtwar clashes: Top cops removed". The Hindu. Retrieved 13 August 2013.
  3. ↑ "Kishtwar clashes". 17 December 2015.
  4. ↑ "Kishtwar violence: Yasin Malik to lead peace march in Srinagar". ANI News. 12 August 2013. Archived from the original on 23 September 2015. Retrieved 20 August 2013.
  5. ↑ Sharma, Arun; Chhibber, Maneesh; Jammu, Batote (11 August 2013). "Kishtwar a tinderbox, region under curfew after clashes". The Indian Express. Retrieved 30 August 2018.
  6. 1 2 "Kishtwar clashes: govt orders inquiry; transfers DC, SP". Hindustan Times. 19 July 2013. Archived from the original on 11 August 2013. Retrieved 13 August 2013.
  7. ↑ "Kishtwar riots: J&K minister Kitchloo resigns, maintains he is innocent". 12 August 2013.
  8. ↑ Sharma, Vivek (11 March 2016). "Sajjad Kitchloo 'masterminded' 2013 Kishtwar communal riots". State Times. Retrieved 30 August 2018.
  9. ↑ "Curfew in Kishtwar amid fresh clashes". Hindustan Times. 10 August 2013. Archived from the original on 11 August 2013. Retrieved 13 August 2013.
  10. ↑ "Amaranth yatra suspended from Jammu over Kishtwar violence". The Economic Times. Press Trust of India. 10 August 2013. Retrieved 13 August 2013.
  11. ↑ "Kishtwar violence: Arun Jaitley detained in Jammu; Amarnath Yatra suspended". Archived from the original on 12 August 2013.
  12. 1 2 "Indefinite curfew continues for second day in Kishtwar". 10 August 2013.
  13. ↑ "Arun Jaitley prevented from visiting Kishtwar". 11 August 2013.
  14. ↑ "Under cloud, minister goes; officials removed in Kishtwar". The Indian Express. 12 June 2013. Retrieved 13 August 2013.
  15. ↑ "Kishtwar riots: J&K minister Kitchloo resigns, maintains he is innocent". Firstpost. 15 May 2013. Retrieved 13 August 2013.
  16. ↑ Arun Sharma (14 August 2013). "Jammu curfew enters 5th day, Amarnath pilgrims stranded". The Indian Express. Retrieved 30 August 2021.
  17. ↑ "Curfew continues in Kishtwar, relaxed in parts of Jammu region". The Economic Times. 14 August 2013. Retrieved 30 August 2013.
  18. ↑ http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Curfew-lifted-from-7-districts-relaxed-in-Kishtwar/articleshow/21840916.cms? Curfew lifted from 7 districts, relaxed in Kishtwar
  19. ↑ http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/19-more-held-in-connection-with-kishtwar-violence/article5019421.ece 19 more held in connection with Kishtwar violence
  20. 1 2 http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Administrative-failure-behind-Kishtwar-riots-Centre/articleshow/21791817.cms Administrative failure behind Kishtwar riots: Centre
  21. ↑ "Tweet by Omar Abdullah". 12 August 2013.
  22. 1 2 Dasgupta, Piyasree (14 August 2013). "Firstpost Politics Parliament live: All of J&K belongs to India, Parliament tells Pakistan". Retrieved 8 September 2013.
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