The 2023 Haryana riots commonly referred to as the Nuh violence were a series of clashes in northern India that originated in the state of Haryana and have subsequently spread to nearby regions. On 31 July 2023, communal violence erupted in the Nuh district of Haryana between Muslims and Hindus during an annual Brajmandal Yatra pilgrimage organised by the Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP). By the evening of the same day, fresh incidents of communal violence were reported from Gurugram and Sohna.[7][8][9] As of 3 August 2023, the situation had resulted in at least seven fatalities[10] and over 200 reported injuries.
The violence started during the annual Brajmandal Yatra pilgrimage through the Muslim-majority district of Nuh; the Muslim community was angered when it was announced that the procession would include Bajrang Dal activist and cow vigilante Monu Manesar, who is wanted by the police as a suspect in the murder of two Muslim men[11] though the man did not show up at the procession.[12][13][14] Upon hearing that Monu Manesar was attending a religious procession, the local Muslim community organized an attack on the procession, and from 21 July to 23 July met to "lay out a plan to attack the yatra". They executed their attack on the procession on 31 July, pelting it with stones, bottles, and molotov cocktails.[15][16] This triggered retaliatory actions from the Hindu procession participants.[16] The Hindus taking part in the procession were forced to flee to a nearby temple, which was then besieged by rioters armed with guns, who fired upon the temple.[17] The police believe this attack was premeditated and well-organized.[15]
In response, the government imposed a curfew, suspended Internet services, and sent extra paramilitary troops to the region to prevent a further outbreak of violence.[11] Calm and order were said to have been restored on 8 August 2023.[18]
^ abDhankhar, Leena (2 August 2023). "Nuh clashes: How the violence was planned". Hindustan Times. According to the investigators, between July 21 and 23, local groups in Nuh held meetings and laid out a plan to attack the yatra, which, they believed will be attended by Monu. People who attended these meetings formed WhatsApp groups and responsibilities were allegedly assigned to each group leader for gathering stones and glass bottles to be thrown at the procession, the investigators said, citing interrogation of people who have been arrested so far.
^ abCite error: The named reference :2 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
