Naroda Patiya massacre

Naroda Patiya massacre
Part of 2002 Gujarat riots
The skyline of Ahmedabad filled with smoke as buildings and shops are set on fire by rioting mobs.
Date	28 February 2002 (2002-02-28)
Location	Naroda, India 23°05′N 72°40′E / 23.083°N 72.667°E / 23.083; 72.667
Methods	Killing, hacking, looting, stabbing, sexual assault, gang-rape and burning people
Number
Mob of 5000+ people Resident 2000+
Casualties and accused
Deaths 97, including: 36 women 35 children 26 men Injuries: 30+ Initially accused (by Gujarat police): 46 Final accused (by Special Investigation Team): 70 Accused died before trials: 6 Accused died during the trials: 3 Accused presented in court: 61 Accused freed on benefit of doubt: 29 Convicted:32

Coordinates: 23°05′N 72°40′E / 23.083°N 72.667°E / 23.083; 72.667

The Naroda Patiya massacre took place on 28 February 2002 at Naroda, in Ahmedabad, India, during the 2002 Gujarat riots. 97 Muslims were killed by a mob of approximately 5,000 people, organised by the Bajrang Dal, a militant wing of the Vishva Hindu Parishad, and supported by the Bharatiya Janata Party which was in power in the Gujarat State Government. The massacre at Naroda occurred during the bandh (strike) called by Vishwa Hindu Parishad a day after the Godhra train burning. The riot lasted over 10 hours, during which the mob looted, stabbed, sexually assaulted, gang-raped and burnt people individually and in groups. After the conflict, a curfew was imposed in the state and army troops were called in to contain further violence.

The communal violence at Naroda was deemed "the largest single case of mass murder" during the 2002 Gujarat riots; it accounted for the greatest number of deaths during a single event. Survivors faced socio-economic problems; many were left homeless, orphaned and injured. A number of shrines were destroyed and many schools were adversely affected, cancelled exams or closed entirely. The surviving victims were given shelter in relief camps provided by both the state and central government, and efforts were begun to restore destroyed properties and shrines. The state government formed a "Gujarat state commission of inquiry" for citizens to have a forum in which to make recommendations and suggest reforms. Mainstream media criticised the Gujarat government's handling of the riots; it was remarked that a number of reports were exaggerated, and "inflammatory headlines, stories and pictures" were published, resulting in anti-Muslim prejudice among the Hindu readership.