2006 Aligarh Riots
Encyclopedia
Aligarh is a town with Hindu
majority a large Muslim
minority (politically dominating) in the northern India
n state
of Uttar Pradesh
. It has been the site of communal riots in past.
At least, five to six people died as a result of rioting that began between Muslims and Hindus in the town on 5 April 2006.
temple (it was the Hindu festival of Ram Navami) while another version as reported by some media suggests that riots started after some Muslims objected to the overnight celebration of Ram Navami .
Hindu
Hindu refers to an identity associated with the philosophical, religious and cultural systems that are indigenous to the Indian subcontinent. As used in the Constitution of India, the word "Hindu" is also attributed to all persons professing any Indian religion...
majority a large Muslim
Muslim
A Muslim, also spelled Moslem, is an adherent of Islam, a monotheistic, Abrahamic religion based on the Quran, which Muslims consider the verbatim word of God as revealed to prophet Muhammad. "Muslim" is the Arabic term for "submitter" .Muslims believe that God is one and incomparable...
minority (politically dominating) in the northern India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
n state
States and territories of India
India is a federal union of states comprising twenty-eight states and seven union territories. The states and territories are further subdivided into districts and so on.-List of states and territories:...
of Uttar Pradesh
Uttar Pradesh
Uttar Pradesh abbreviation U.P. , is a state located in the northern part of India. With a population of over 200 million people, it is India's most populous state, as well as the world's most populous sub-national entity...
. It has been the site of communal riots in past.
At least, five to six people died as a result of rioting that began between Muslims and Hindus in the town on 5 April 2006.
Causes
The rioting started on night of 5 April when according to some people, members of the Muslim community removed the decorations on a HinduHinduism
Hinduism is the predominant and indigenous religious tradition of the Indian Subcontinent. Hinduism is known to its followers as , amongst many other expressions...
temple (it was the Hindu festival of Ram Navami) while another version as reported by some media suggests that riots started after some Muslims objected to the overnight celebration of Ram Navami .
Timeline
- 5-6 April: According to one version of the events, members of Muslim community remove decorations on a Hindu temple in view of Rama NavamiRama NavamiRam Navami also known as Sri Ram Navami is a Hindu festival, celebrating the birth of Lord Rama to King Dasharatha and Queen Kausalya of Ayodhya. Ram is the 7th incarnation of the Dashavatara of Vishnu. Years later Lord Rama was married to Sita on the...
leading to communal clashes in Sabzi Mandi (Vegetable Market) and Dahi Wali Galli areas of the city. Four people are killed and 13 are injured. Another more authentic version of story reported as by Reuters suggests that tensions escalated after Muslims objected to overnight celebration of Rama NavamiRama NavamiRam Navami also known as Sri Ram Navami is a Hindu festival, celebrating the birth of Lord Rama to King Dasharatha and Queen Kausalya of Ayodhya. Ram is the 7th incarnation of the Dashavatara of Vishnu. Years later Lord Rama was married to Sita on the...
.
- 6 April: Curfew was not imposed in certain areas of the city and Rapid Action ForceRapid Action ForceThe Rapid Action Force is a specialised wing of the Indian CRPF . It was established on 11 December 1991 and became fully operational in October 1992, to deal with riots & related unrest...
is deployed. State of Uttar PradeshUttar PradeshUttar Pradesh abbreviation U.P. , is a state located in the northern part of India. With a population of over 200 million people, it is India's most populous state, as well as the world's most populous sub-national entity...
goes on 'Red Alert' as government fears of rioting spreading to other cities.
- 7 April: Death toll rises to 6, as the city's Superintendent of Police S K Verma and Additional District Magistrate Satya Bhan are placed under suspension on charges of laxity. Lalji Tandon, opposition leader of the Uttar PradeshUttar PradeshUttar Pradesh abbreviation U.P. , is a state located in the northern part of India. With a population of over 200 million people, it is India's most populous state, as well as the world's most populous sub-national entity...
state assembly, is detained at Kanpur while on his way to riot-affected areas. 68 people are arrested on rioting charges.
- 8 April: Rioting continues despite the curfew and heavy paramilitary presence in the city.
External links
- Tensions in Aligarh as 4 persons are killed in a clash – 6 April (Outlook India)
- Hindu Muslim riots leave two dead in North India – 6 April (ReutersReutersReuters is a news agency headquartered in New York City. Until 2008 the Reuters news agency formed part of a British independent company, Reuters Group plc, which was also a provider of financial market data...
) - BJP Claims minority "appeasement" the reason behind riots – 7 April (Outlook India)
- Congress seeks judicial probe into the riots – 7 April (OneIndia)
- Toll rises to 6 as riots as curfew continues – 7 April (Gauravi Gujarat)
- Toll reaches 5 as Aligrah riots continue – 8 April (The Times of IndiaThe Times of IndiaThe Times of India is an Indian English-language daily newspaper. TOI has the largest circulation among all English-language newspaper in the world, across all formats . It is owned and managed by Bennett, Coleman & Co. Ltd...
)