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{{Violence against Hindus in independent India}}{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2020}}
{{Use Indian English|date=October 2015}}
The '''2013 Canning riots''' were riots against [[Bengali Hindus]] by [[Bengali Muslims]] in the [[India]]n state of [[West Bengal]] on 21 February 2013.<ref name="OneIndia">{{Cite web|last=Sreekumar|date=2013-02-21|title=Riots in West Bengal {{!}} South 24 Parganas District 200 Homes Torched {{!}} Shops Ransacked|url=https://www.oneindia.com/2013/02/21/west-bengal-homes-torched-shops-ransacked-in-riots-1155624.html|access-date=2021-05-23|website=oneindia.com|language=en}}</ref> The riots occurred in the [[Canning subdivision]], after a Muslim cleric was killed by unidentified assailants.<ref name="indianexpress.com">{{cite news | title=Muslim cleric shot dead in Canning | last=Ali | first=Arshad | url= http://www.indianexpress.com/news/muslim-cleric-shot-dead-in-canning/1076801/ | newspaper=[[The Indian Express]] | date=20 February 2013 | accessdate=21 February 2013}}</ref> Following this incident, Muslim mobs [[arson|burned down]] over 200 [[Hindu]] homes in the villages of Naliakhali, [[Herobhanga]], Gopalpur and Goladogra villages in the [[Canning, South 24 Parganas|Canning]] police station area.<ref name="OneIndia" /> 24 (Two dozen) Hindu-owned shops were looted in [[Jaynagar]] police station area under [[Baruipur subdivision]]. Incidents of violence were reported from [[Canning, South 24 Parganas|Canning]], Jaynagar, [[Kultali]] and [[Basanti, South 24 Parganas|Basanti]] police station areas.<ref name="HT" />

== Background ==

On 19 February 2013, shortly after midnight, [[Indian Standard Time]], a Muslim [[Imam]] from Ghutiari Sharif in [[Canning subdivision]] was returning from a religious congregation at Jamtala in Jaynagar, in a motorcycle along with a colleague. When they reached Naliakhali around 2 a.m., they were intercepted by a gang of waylayers, who robbed the cleric and shot him.<ref name="ndtv22022013">{{cite news | url=http://www.ndtv.com/article/india/200-houses-burnt-in-bengal-village-by-mob-protesting-cleric-s-death-334298 | title=200 houses burnt in Bengal village by mob protesting cleric's death | last=Banerjie | first=Monideepa | date=22 February 2013 | work=[[NDTV]] | accessdate=24 February 2013}}</ref> According to police sources the cleric was reportedly carrying {{Indian Rupee}} 1,150,000 in cash that was looted by the unidentified gunmen.<ref name="HT">{{cite news | title=Maulana murder: clashes erupt in S 24-Pgs, 46 held | author= HT Correspondent | url= http://www.hindustantimes.com/India-news/Kolkata/Maulana-murder-clashes-erupt-in-S-24-Pgs-46-held/Article1-1014906.aspx | archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20130224013353/http://www.hindustantimes.com/India-news/Kolkata/Maulana-murder-clashes-erupt-in-S-24-Pgs-46-held/Article1-1014906.aspx | url-status= dead | archive-date= 24 February 2013 | newspaper=[[Hindustan Times]] | date= 21 February 2013 | accessdate=22 February 2013}}</ref> The altercation resulted in the death of the Imam, although his companion managed to flee after sustaining injuries. At dawn, the driver of the first bus from Golabari to [[Canning, South 24 Parganas|Canning]] discovered the body and intimated the [[Canning, South 24 Parganas|Canning]] police station. Several other bus drivers travelling on that route communicated their findings to the police station. The police initially took the incident casually and made no effort to visit Naliakhali.<ref name="TOI_Ceasar_20130220">{{cite news|url=http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2013-02-20/kolkata/37199105_1_villagers-rumours-bus-driver|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130223043256/http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2013-02-20/kolkata/37199105_1_villagers-rumours-bus-driver|url-status=dead|archive-date=23 February 2013|title=Violence after villager murder|author=Caesar Mandal|date=20 February 2013|newspaper=[[The Times of India]]|accessdate=24 February 2013}}</ref><ref name=gn23022013 /> Police has so far not been able to trace the culprits or even the motive behind the murder and with the murder of another Muslim cleric with large followers<ref name=indianexpress.com /> in the same district emotionally charged the locals.<ref name=gn23022013 />

== Violence ==

Naliakhali is a [[Hindu]] majority village in the Gopalpur [[panchayat]] that fell under the executive jurisdiction of the [[Canning, South 24 Parganas|Canning]] [[police station]].<ref name="bp2002013">{{cite news | url=http://portal.thebengalpost.com/index.php/index/newsdetails/32033511361290922 | title=100 houses gutted in protest against murder | last=Saha | first=Prasenjeet | date=20 February 2013 | work=The Bengal Post | accessdate=24 February 2013 | location=Kolkata | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180813005435/http://portal.thebengalpost.com/index.php/index/newsdetails/32033511361290922 | archive-date=13 August 2018 | url-status=dead }}</ref>

A crowd gathered at the site of the attack and rumors began to spread that the killers were from the village of Naliakhali.<ref name="TOI_Ceasar_20130220"/> Thousands of people from neighbouring areas, such as [[Canning, South 24 Parganas|Canning]], Jibantala, Sarengabad, Jhorormore, Narayanpur and Dhoaghata gathered on the site and refused to part with the body of cleric.<ref name="bp2002013"/> When the police tried to take away the body of the cleric for processing, the mob attacked the police with {{linktext|brickbat}}s. Anup Kumar Ghosh, the [[sub-inspector]] of the police station at [[Canning, South 24 Parganas|Canning]], was injured and {{citation needed span|text=had to|date=April 2013}} be admitted to the [[Canning, South 24 Parganas|Canning]] Sub-divisional Hospital.<ref name="bp2002013"/> Seven policemen were injured in the attack.<ref name="abp20022013">{{cite news | url=http://www.anandabazar.com/archive/1130220/20pgn3.html | title=গুলিতে মৃত্যু, ক্যানিংয়ে তুলকালাম | date=20 February 2013 | work=[[Anandabazar Patrika]] | language=Bengali | accessdate=24 February 2013 | location=Kolkata | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130324073620/http://www.anandabazar.com/archive/1130220/20pgn3.html | archive-date=24 March 2013 | url-status=dead}}</ref> The mob also attacked and damaged police vehicles.<ref name="abp20022013"/>

In the meantime, neighbors of the killed cleric were transported to [[Canning, South 24 Parganas|Canning]] from [[Kolkata]] in trucks.<ref name="TOI_Ceasar_20130220"/> A local school principal reportedly incited the mob into violence. At around 10 a.m., a heavily armed mob of at least 10,000 began an attack upon Naliakhali.<ref name="ndtv22022013"/> They {{linktext|ransack}}ed and looted the homes of [[Bengali Hindu]]s as the residents fled for their lives.{{citation needed|date=May 2014}} The rioters hurled bombs, doused the houses with petrol and set them on fire.<ref name="TOI_Ceasar_20130220"/><ref name="gn23022013">{{cite news|url=http://gulfnews.com/news/world/india/communal-violence-returns-to-haunt-bengal-1.1150036|title=Communal violence returns to haunt Bengal|last=Dinda|first=Archisman|date=23 February 2013|work=[[Gulf News]]|accessdate=24 February 2013|location=[[Dubai]]}}</ref><ref name="oneindia21022013">{{cite news|url=http://news.oneindia.in/2013/02/21/west-bengal-homes-torched-shops-ransacked-in-riots-1155624.html|title=West Bengal: 200 homes torched, shops ransacked in riots|date=21 February 2013|work=[[Oneindia.in|Oneindia News]]|accessdate=22 February 2013}}</ref> Violence and arson spread to nearby locations such as Dhopar More and Bangalpara.<ref name="bp2002013"/> Hindu homes and places of business were {{linktext|ransack}}ed in Gopalpur, Goladogra and Herobhanga.<ref name="gn23022013"/> The crowd blocked the road at Bhangankhali, Priyor More, Hospital More and Natunhat. Protesters also staged a rail blocked at Ghutiari Sharif station in the Sonarpur-Canning section of the [[Sealdah South lines]].<ref name="gn23022013"/><ref name="un21022013">{{cite news|url=http://udupinet.com/index.php/2013/02/21/communal-flare-up-in-wb/|title=Communal flare-up in WB|date=21 February 2013|work=UdupiNet|accessdate=24 February 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160305041516/http://udupinet.com/index.php/2013/02/21/communal-flare-up-in-wb/|archive-date=5 March 2016|url-status=dead}}</ref>

At around 11 a.m., the [[South 24 Parganas]] District Superintendent of Police Praveen Kumar Tripathi, reached the spot along with a massive [[riot squad]] and Rapid Action Force battalions.<ref name="TOI_Ceasar_20130220"/> They resorted to a [[Baton charge|lathi charge]] in order to [[wikt:pacification|pacify]] and [[disperse]] the mob. The body of the Imam was then sent for an [[autopsy]].<ref name="bp2002013"/> In the late afternoon reinforcements from the [[Bidhannagar Police Commissionerate]] and the [[Howrah Police Commissionerate]] reached with water cannons to douse the flames of the burning village.<ref name="TOI_Ceasar_20130220"/> The police evoked Section-144 of the [[Criminal Procedure Code, 1973 (India)|Code of Criminal Procedure]] and established a [[curfew]] in the area.<ref name="st19022013">{{cite news|url=http://www.thestatesman.net/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=444310&catid=35|title=Priest shot dead at Canning|date=19 February 2013|work=[[The Statesman (India)|The Statesman]]|accessdate=24 February 2013|location=Kolkata}}</ref>

== Aftermath ==

In the violence, more than 200 houses were burnt in several villages that came under the jurisdictions of the [[Canning, South 24 Parganas|Canning]], Jaynagar, [[Kultali]] and [[Basanti, South 24 Parganas|Basanti]] police stations, displacing more than 2,000 people.<ref name="ht22022013">{{cite news|url=http://www.hindustantimes.com/India-news/Kolkata/South-24-Parganas-tense-calm/Article1-1015443.aspx|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130222073816/http://www.hindustantimes.com/India-news/Kolkata/South-24-Parganas-tense-calm/Article1-1015443.aspx|url-status=dead|archive-date=22 February 2013|title=South 24 Parganas tense, calm|date=22 February 2013|work=[[Hindustan Times]]|accessdate=24 February 2013|location=Kolkata}}</ref> Some of the displaced people took shelter in makeshift relief camps while others had to live on the road. The state government announced a compensation of {{Indian Rupee}} 300,000 to the family of the murdered cleric and {{Indian Rupee}} 10,000 to each of the 93 families displaced by the violence.<ref name="ht22022013"/> 52 people were arrested by the police in connection with the violence.<ref name="ndtv22022013"/> Some NGOs have provided food and medicine to the affected region in Naliakhali.<ref name="ndtv22022013"/>

West Bengal Minister of State for Minority Affairs and [[Trinamool Congress]] [[Member of the Legislative Assembly (India)|MLA]]. from Magrahat West constituency [[Giasuddin Molla]] accused the [[Communist Party of India (Marxist)]] and [[Indian National Congress]] of fomenting trouble in the state before the panchayat elections.<ref name="HT"/> The Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has appealed for peace and promised a special investigation into the murder case.<ref name="gn23022013"/> Political observers have linked the violence to the forthcoming [[panchayat]] elections in the region, where the [[Trinamool Congress]] and the [[Communist Party of India (Marxist)]] are trying to woo Muslim voters in the district.<ref name="oneindia21022013"/>

== See also ==
* [[2010 Deganga riots]]

== References ==
{{Reflist|30em}}

{{Riots in India}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Canning riots}}

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[[Category:Riots and civil disorder in India]]
[[Category:Religious riots]]
[[Category:Religiously motivated violence in India]]
[[Category:2010s in West Bengal]]
[[Category:South 24 Parganas district]]
[[Category:Politico-Religious violence in West Bengal]]
[[Category:Persecution of Bengali Hindus]]
[[Category:2013 crimes in India]]
[[Category:Arson in India]]
[[Category:Crime in West Bengal]]
[[Category:February 2013 events in India]]
[[Category:2013 murders in Asia]]
[[Category:2010s murders in India]]