The 2023 Haryana riots marked a series of confrontations in northern India, initially sparking in Haryana and subsequently extending to adjacent regions. These disturbances commenced on July 31, 2023, with communal clashes in Haryana’s Nuh district, involving Muslims and Hindus, coinciding with the annual Brajmandal Yatra pilgrimage organized by the Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP), a Hindu nationalist group. On the same day, further incidents of communal violence were recorded in Gurugram and Sohna. As of August 3, 2023, the ongoing situation has resulted in a minimum of seven casualties and over 200 reported injuries.
Tag: GS Paper-1: Secularism; Communalism; Salient features of Indian Society.
Exam View:
Communal tension in the region; Classic pattern in the ways of the administration; Nuh: A study in unprofessional law enforcement.
Context:
Law enforcement agencies mishandled communal violence in Nuh, Haryana, showing bias and inadequate response. After the communal violence, Rapid Action Force (RAF) has been deployed in sector-57 near Tigra Village to maintain law & order, in Gurugram, India.
Decoding the editorial: Communal tensions in the region
- The protests against cow vigilantism only mounted after the brutal killing of Junaid and Nasir in Rajasthan’s Bhiwani district earlier this year.
- Many first information reports (FIRs) of mob violence against cow vigilante groups were registered.
- Most of the victims in these cases were Muslims; but the police inactivity in many of these cases fuelled a general impression that administrative action in these cases was not only inadequate but full of communal prejudice.
Classic pattern in the ways of the administration
- The violence always initially begins as a clash between communities, but over time, morphs into a fight between the groups and the police.
- The riots break out in an apparently spontaneous moment, but, later, it transpires that preparations were going on for quite some time.
- Finally, at the end of the day, minority communities are left with the perception that the State did not do what it was supposed to do, or in some cases, did what was constitutionally inappropriate.
Nuh: A study in unprofessional law enforcement
- The response and reaction in Nuh of Haryana’s police force, which is supposed to be better equipped than most other state forces in the country and is responsible for safeguarding law and order in regions of rapid economic growth, was found wanting.
- The first response of the administration was poorly planned and inadequate, and its subsequent inaction smacked of bias.
- Pre-planning failure:
- The usual police practice is to discourage any religious procession, especially in communally sensitive areas. Here, it was allowed.
- For any procession, the timing, route, number of participants, slogans to be raised, or weapons to be carried, are meticulously documented.
- On occasions such as this, leaders of communities reach a certain understanding in the presence of police officers and magistrates and assure the local authorities to abide by it in writing.
- It is unclear if any such steps were taken in Nuh, where the police appeared to have been taken by surprise by the widespread use of firearms late into the night on the first day of violence.
- Also, provocative videos were in circulation for many days, without any response from the local authorities.
- Botched response:
- Certain visuals appeared in which policemen were seen hurling stones. This is not unusual in the situation they were in.
- A large hostile mob was roughly 100 yards away from them and was pelting stones and other projectiles; with the police were two useless weapons, a cane and a gun.
- The hail of stones didn’t allow them to move closer, making their canes ineffective, and guns couldn’t be used against supposedly unarmed citizens.
- So, they responded by throwing back the stones, to keep the hooligans away.
- But there were other civilians seen in these visuals, standing next to the police and also throwing stones. Other videos showed both sides with guns.
- Many instances of mob violence of a communal nature start as a fight between Hindus and Muslims, but soon transform into a conflict between the police and Muslims.
- Some sections of the police, which should have played the role of neutral referees, instead become part of a warring group.
- Similarly, the role of the administration is also suspect.
The violence in Nuh holds a lesson that we must learn urgently because such instances can throw a spanner in the works of making India into a $5 trillion economy.
Source: The Hindustan Times
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q: What are the recent clashes in Nuh?
Answer: The recent clashes in Nuh refer to instances of communal or inter-group violence that have occurred in the Nuh district of Haryana, India. These clashes often involve tensions between different communities or groups and can lead to violence and unrest.
Q: What are the reasons behind the clashes in Nuh?
Answer: The reasons behind clashes in Nuh can vary, but they often stem from underlying socio-economic, religious, or political factors. These clashes may be triggered by disputes over land, resources, or differences in religious beliefs, and sometimes exacerbated by historical tensions.
Q: What is the meaning of “Nuh clashes”?
Answer: The term “Nuh clashes” refers to the incidents of violence and conflict that have occurred in the Nuh district of Haryana. These clashes can involve various forms of strife, including riots, protests, or altercations between different groups, often with communal or inter-group dimensions.
Q: How can the authorities address the issue of clashes in Nuh?
Answer: Addressing clashes in Nuh requires a multi-faceted approach. Authorities should focus on community engagement, promoting dialogue between different groups, ensuring law and order, and addressing the underlying social and economic disparities. Building trust and fostering inclusivity are essential in preventing and resolving such clashes.
Q: What can individuals do to contribute to peace and harmony in Nuh?
Answer: Individuals can play a crucial role in promoting peace and harmony in Nuh by advocating for tolerance, understanding, and unity among diverse communities. Engaging in community-building initiatives, supporting local organizations, and spreading awareness about the importance of coexistence can help create a more peaceful environment in the region.
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