2013 Kishtwar clashes

Date	9 August 2013
Caused by	Attempt to create communal disharmony for electoral gains
Parties
Muslims Hindus Police, Army
Casualties and losses
2 killed 1 killed
Casualties
Death	3
Injuries	80

The 2013 Kishtwar Riots, which claimed three lives and injured eighty more, was a conflict between Muslim and Hindu communities, that occurred in the aftermath of the Eid festival on 9 August 2013 at Kishtwar, Jammu and Kashmir.

Initial clashes

The conflict started as a bike rider was trying to make his way through a procession of Muslims, who were going for Eid prayers. The bike rider (who was Hindu), 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 Hindu and two Muslims. Later, Muslim mobs went through the market area, setting fire to shops and homes of Hindus. People involved in the clashes initially started with stone-pelting and later shops and houses were gutted. The situation was handled by the state government, who called in the army and prevented the entry of politicians into affected areas, due to fears of the politicians' presence further inflaming tensions.

On 11 March 2016, the Justice R C Gandhi Commission indicted former Minister of State for Home, then National Conference MLC, Sajjad Ahmed Kichloo for masterminding the 2013 Kishtwar communal riots that claimed three lives, left 80 injured and over 100 houses and business establishments (mainly belonging to Hindus) gutted.

Aftermath

9 August

• Curfew is immediately imposed on the area and several changes are made in the administrative positions.

10 August

• Clashes continue in Paddar, three injured.
• The state government stops traffic along the national highway from Lakhanpur to Banihal and towards Doda and Kishtwar.
• Amarnath Yatra is cancelled owing to the tensions in the district.
• J&K Government announces ex-gratia relief of 500 000 rupees to the relatives of Aravind Kumar Bhagat.
• Educational institution remain closed.

11 August

• Mobile phone and Internet communications are suspended.
• Curfew is extended to Udhampur, Samba and Kathua along with Bhaderwah town in Doda affecting seven out of 10 districts of Jammu region.
• BJP Leader Arun Jaitley is prevented from entering Kishtwar, to prevent further escalation of violence.

12 August

• Fresh violence breaks out in Hidyal village of Kishtwar, where a Hindu mob consisting of armed VDC members attack a Muslim neighborhood. 10 injured including an ASP.
• Minister of State for Home, Sajjad Kichloo resigns.

14 August

• 150 people, including some local Hurriyat leaders, are arrested as the police crack down on miscreants responsible for violence in the region. Over 100 people involved in stone pelting and arson are also arrested in several parts of Jammu region.
• Internet services for mobile phone and wi-fi users remain suspended for the fourth day across Jammu and Kashmir. Internet speeds for broadband services are reduced with a view to checking the upload of objectionable material on social networking sites.

15 August

• Curfew is lifted in 7 districts of Jammu region except for Kishtwar, where 4-hour morning relaxation is given.

Arrests

As at 13 August 2013, a total of 141 people had been taken into custody, in connection with the incidents. Nearly 40 weapons looted from a Kishtwar arms shop remained missing.

Administrative Failure

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

1. Low police strength
2. Wrong assessment of the gravity of situation
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. CRPF, which has 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 J&K government to prevent violence from spreading further by deploying adequate forces in all parts of the state.

Reactions

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

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

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