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{{Use Indian English|date=February 2020}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2020}}
{{Infobox civil conflict
| title = Kaliachak
| partof =
| image =
| caption =
| map_type =India West Bengal
| map_label = Malda District
| map_caption = Location of place of riots in West Bengal, India
|date= {{Start date|df=yes|2016|01|03}}
| place = [[Malda district]], [[West Bengal]], [[India]]
| coordinates = {{coord|24.8|88.03|type:landmark|format=dms|display=inline,title}}
| methods = [[Public demonstration]] and clashes
| status =
| result =
| side1 =
| side2 =
| side3 =
| leadfigures1 =
| leadfigures2 =
| leadfigures3 =
| howmany1 =
| howmany2 =
| howmany3 =
| casualties1 =
| casualties2 =
| casualties3 =
| fatalities =none reported
| injuries = 30+
| arrests = 10
| detentions =
| casualties_label =
| notes =
}}
Riots broke out in [[Kaliachak I (community development block)|Kaliachak]], [[Malda district]] in [[West Bengal]], [[India]] on 3 January 2016.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/kaliachak-in-malda-turns-ghost-town-48-hrs-after-violence/1/563443.html|title=48 hours after communal riots, Kaliachak in Malda turns ghost town|work=India Today|access-date=6 January 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://scroll.in/article/801459/it-was-localised-violence-in-a-crime-prone-area-why-some-newspapers-were-low-key-on-the-malda-violence|title=Why did the media ignore the Malda communal violence?|work=scroll.in|access-date=6 January 2016}}</ref><ref name="banerjie06012016">{{cite news|url=http://www.ndtv.com/cheat-sheet/mob-violence-near-malda-home-ministry-asks-mamata-government-for-report-1262797|title=Centre Asks Mamata Government For Report On Malda Mob Violence: 10 Developments|last=Banerjie|first=Monideepa|date=6 January 2016|work=NDTV|access-date=6 January 2016}}</ref> The Muslims were protesting the remark of political leaders [[Kamlesh Tiwari]], But the protest turned into riots, when Muslim mob of more than 1 lakh people attacked the police and vandalised the police station of Kaliachak area.<ref>{{cite news|title=Here's why 1 lakh Muslims are demanding death penalty for Kamlesh Tiwari|url=http://www.dnaindia.com/india/report-here-s-why-1-lakh-muslims-are-demanding-death-penalty-for-kamlesh-tiwari-2154898|accessdate=18 March 2016|publisher=[[aily News and Analysis]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=This is what Kamlesh Tiwari said about Prophet Muhammad which infuriated Muslims|url=http://zeenews.india.com/news/india/this-is-what-kamlesh-tiwari-said-about-prophet-muhammad-which-infuriated-muslims_1833716.html|accessdate=18 March 2016|publisher=Zee News}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|date=5 January 2016|title=Muslim rally turns violent, mob burns police station over Kamlesh Tiwari's remarks on Prophet Muhammad|publisher=Zee News|url=http://zeenews.india.com/news/india/mob-burns-police-station-vehicles-over-kamlesh-tiwaris-remarks-on-prophet-muhammad_1841798.html}}</ref><ref name=":0" />

A section of that protest rally turned violent when infurious protestors tried to broke barricades and confronted the police and [[Border Security Force]] (BSF). Mob vandalized Kaliachak Police station, block development office and public property injuring 30 policemen. Several private and government vehicles including BSF and [[North Bengal State Transport Corporation]] (NBSTC) vehicles were torched. The train service was disturbed as protesters blocked railway tracks at Khaltipur railway station.<ref name="The Hindu 2016"/>

== Background ==

Malda district of West Bengal has a mixed population comprising Hindus and Muslims. According to 2011 Census of India, Malda district is one of such districts in India which has Muslim population comparable to the Hindu population where in Kalichak block Muslim population shares the major proportion.<ref>{{cite web|title=District Profile:MALDA|publisher=malda.gov.in|url=http://malda.gov.in/Disprof.htm|access-date=6 January 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190805030034/http://www.malda.gov.in/Disprof.htm|archive-date=5 August 2019|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://wbprd.gov.in/HtmlPage/index.aspx?lang=eng|title=WELCOME TO THE DEPARTMENT OF WEST BENGAL PANCHAYAT AND RURAL DEVELOPMENT...|access-date=18 January 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190517223556/http://www.wbprd.gov.in/HtmlPage/index.aspx?lang=eng|archive-date=17 May 2019|url-status=dead}}</ref> This district also shares border with Indian state [[Bihar]] and [[Jharkhand]], also an international border with Bangladesh. This place is considered to be a safe passage of illegal drug mafia as well as [[Poppy (flower)|poppy]] traders.

===Remarks on homosexuality===
{{Main|Homosexuality in India}}
[[Section 377 of the Indian Penal Code]] (IPC) dating back to 1861, made [[Homosexuality|homosexual]] sex punishable by law and carried a life sentence. In 2009, the [[High Court of Delhi]] found the law unconstitutional, effectively invalidating the ban. Four years later, on 11 December 2013, the [[Supreme Court of India|Supreme Court]] reversed the lower court's decision, restoring the statute while leaving it to the [[Lok Sabha]] to amend the law.<ref>{{cite news|date=11 December 2013|author=Gardiner Harris|title=India's Supreme Court Restores an 1861 Law Banning Gay Sex|work=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2013/12/12/world/asia/court-restores-indias-ban-on-gay-sex.html}}</ref> Since re-criminalisation, several politicians, including former External Affairs Minister [[Shashi Tharoor]]<ref>{{cite news|date=19 December 2015|title=India parliament blocks MP's bill to decriminalize gay sex|publisher=AFP via Rappler|url=http://www.rappler.com/world/regions/south-central-asia/116433-india-blocks-mp-vote-decriminalize-gay-sex}}</ref> and [[Bharatiya Janata Party]] Finance Minister [[Arun Jaitley]]<ref>{{cite web|author=Dhamini Ratnam|date=14 January 2015|title=BJP supports decriminalization of homosexuality: Shaina NC|publisher=LiveMint|url=http://www.livemint.com/Leisure/XCOl7cJw5t3DgnQZsFYIFO/BJP-supports-decriminalization-of-homosexuality-Shaina-NC.html}}</ref> opined in favour of legal [[decriminalisation]].

Jaitley opinionated to reconsider judgement on homosexuality by Supreme Court on 28 November 2015 at Times Literature Festival in Mumbai.<ref>{{cite news|date=29 November 2015|title=Arun Jaitely's Speech On NJAC at Times LIT Fest|publisher=Times of Indida|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zh4LsKtHU5Y}}</ref> On 2 December, [[Azam Khan (politician)|Azam Khan]], a Muslim senior politician of the [[Samajwadi Party]] and a member of [[Uttar Pradesh]] [[Sixteenth Legislative Assembly of Uttar Pradesh|Legislative Assembly]],<ref>{{cite news|title=Member Profile|publisher=[[Uttar Pradesh Legislative Assembly|U.P. Legislative Assembly]]|url=http://uplegisassembly.gov.in/ENGLISH/pdfs/members_profile/37.pdf|access-date=6 January 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304095943/http://uplegisassembly.gov.in/ENGLISH/pdfs/members_profile/37.pdf|archive-date=4 March 2016|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=All MLAs from Assembly Constituency|publisher=Elections.in|url=http://www.elections.in/uttar-pradesh/assembly-constituencies/rampur.html}}</ref> responded to Jaitley's speech by saying that [[Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh]] members are homosexuals as they do not get married.<ref>{{cite news|date=12 December 2015|title=This is what Kamlesh Tiwari said about Prophet Muhammad which infuriated Muslims|publisher=Zee News|url=http://zeenews.india.com/news/india/this-is-what-kamlesh-tiwari-said-about-prophet-muhammad-which-infuriated-muslims_1833716.html}}</ref> The next day, Kamlesh Tiwari who claimed to be the working president of [[Akhil Bharatiya Hindu Mahasabha]] called [[Muhammad|Prophet Muhammad]] the first homosexual in the world.<ref name=":0">{{Cite news|url=https://www.timesofindia.com/city/meerut/Kamlesh-Tiwari-not-a-member-says-Hindu-Mahasabha/articleshow/50048536.cms|title=Kamlesh Tiwari not a member, says Hindu Mahasabha}}</ref> He was arrested in [[Lucknow]] on 3 December 2015. A case under IPC sections 153-A (promoting enmity between groups on ground of religion and doing acts prejudicial to maintenance of harmony) and 295-A (deliberate and malicious acts, intended to outrage religious feelings of any class by insulting its religion or religious beliefs) was registered against him at Naka Hindola police station, Lucknow. Protest rallies, against his statement, were held by several Islamic groups across the nation, most of them demanding death by hanging.<ref name="Panwar 2016">{{cite web | last=Panwar | first=Preeti | title=Malda violence explained: Muslim mob ransack police stations, burn vehicles | website=www.oneindia.com | date=2016-01-05 | url=http://www.oneindia.com/feature/all-you-need-to-know-about-malda-violence-west-bengal-trinamool-congress-muslims-1974289.html | accessdate=2016-01-06}}</ref>

==Protests and violence==
Idara-e-Shariya and Anjuman Ahle Sunnatul Jamat, a Muslim organisation had held a protest gathering with prior permissions from concerned authorities in Kaliachak on 3 January 2016 demanding death by hanging of Tiwari which was attended by 30,000<ref name="The Hindu 2016">{{cite web | title=Mob attacks police station in Malda | website=The Hindu: Mobile Edition | date=2016-01-04 | url=http://m.thehindu.com/news/national/other-states/mob-attacks-police-station-in-malda/article8061769.ece | accessdate=2016-01-06}}</ref> to 2.5 [[lakh]] Muslims.<ref name="Jansatta">{{cite web|url=http://www.jansatta.com/national/protest-rally-of-muslims-turns-violent-in-malda-mob-set-fire-on-vehicles-attacked-police-station/58609/|title=बंगाल: पैगंबर के 'अपमान' के विरोध में हिंसा करने के आरोप में 10 लोग गिरफ्तार|date=4 January 2016|work=Jansatta}}</ref><ref name="The Indian Express 2016">{{cite web|url=http://indianexpress.com/article/india/india-news-india/bengal-malda-tense-as-anti-tiwari-rally-turns-violent/|title=West Bengal: Malda tense as anti-Tiwari rally turns violent|date=4 January 2016|work=The Indian Express}}</ref><ref name="Panwar 2016"/> A set of people from the protest rally turned violent and vandalized Kaliachak Police station, block development office and public property. Several private and government vehicles including [[Border Security Force]] (BSF) vehicles were torched. An [[North Bengal State Transport Corporation|NBSTC]] bus was also torched on National Highway 34 leaving several vehicles stranded on the highway. Over 30 people including police officers were injured. The train service was disturbed as protesters blocked railway tracks at Khaltipur railway station. When police stopped protesters, the riot broke out.<ref name="The Hindu 2016"/><ref name="The Indian Express 2016"/><ref name="Jansatta"/><ref name="Firstpost 2016">{{cite web | title=Ten people arrested after Malda violence: Here are the key developments | website=Firstpost | date=2016-01-06 | url=http://www.firstpost.com/india/ten-arrested-after-malda-violence-simmers-here-are-the-key-developments-2572700.html | accessdate=2016-01-06}}</ref>
According to some news reports, Shani Temple, Durga Temple and other [[Hindu temples]] were attacked at Baliadanga and around 25 houses and shops owned by both Hindus and Muslims were vandalized.<ref name=RajatRoy /><ref name="Panwar 2016"/><ref name=":1">{{cite web|url=http://www.morningcable.com/378-top-stories/41797-kaliachak-riots-hindu-minority-targeted-no-media-report.html|title=Kaliachak riots Hindu minority targeted no media report - Kaliachak|author=Nandishwarreddy.s|access-date=2016-01-13|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160127072613/http://www.morningcable.com/378-top-stories/41797-kaliachak-riots-hindu-minority-targeted-no-media-report.html|archive-date=2016-01-27|url-status=dead}}</ref>

[[Kaliachak I (community development block)|Kaliachak]], a place near an [[Bangladesh–India border|international border]], is considered as a passage of [[mafia]] and anti-socials of the neighboring states, and has become a depot of many anti-social activities. Crimes like keeping [[Arms trafficking|illegal arms]], cultivation of [[Poppy (flower)|poppy]], dealing of [[Fake Indian currency note|fake note]], [[Illegal drug trade|illegal drag trafficking]] are rapidly growing in this region. According to some news reports, taking the scope of religious outrage local goons who had criminal cases against them attacked the police station to destroy the evidences against them.<ref>{{Cite web|title = India's own Afghanistan in West Bengal, where heroin is villain : Mail Today, News - India Today|url = http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/indias-own-afghanistan-in-west-bengal-where-heroin-is-villain/1/566420.html|website = indiatoday.intoday.in|access-date = 2016-01-12}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title = Malda riots: Why Muslim mob specifically targeted Kaliachak police station|url = http://zeenews.india.com/news/india/malda-riots-why-muslim-mob-specifically-targeted-kaliachak-police-station_1844435.html|website = Zee News|access-date = 2016-01-12}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|last1=Banerjie|first1=Monideepa|title=Poppy Fields Of Malda May Be Key To Mob Violence On January 3|url=http://www.ndtv.com/india-news/poppy-fields-of-malda-may-be-key-to-kaliachak-violence-1266053|accessdate=18 March 2016|publisher=NDTV|date=15 January 2016}}</ref><ref name=RajatRoy>{{cite news|last1=Roy|first1=Rajat|title=Decoding Malda violence: Unrest was more than communal incident, it was narco mafia's message to cops|url=http://www.firstpost.com/india/decoding-malda-violence-unrest-was-more-than-communal-incident-it-was-narco-mafias-message-to-cops-2588434.html|accessdate=18 March 2016|publisher=[[Firstpost]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Kaliachak clash because of poppy mafia|url=http://eisamay.indiatimes.com/state/kaliachak-clash-because-of-poppy-mafia/articleshow/50556140.cms|accessdate=18 March 2016|publisher=Ei Samay Sangbadpatra|date=13 January 2016}}</ref>

Police had to fire 40 rounds in the blank in an attempt to control the mobs. [[Rapid Action Force]] (RAF) personnel were deployed to control the situation. [[Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh|RSS]] activist Gopal Tiwari was injured in firing.<ref>{{Cite web|url = http://zeenews.india.com/news/india/malda-riots-why-muslim-mob-specifically-targeted-kaliachak-police-station_1844435.html|title = Malda riots: Why mob specifically targeted Kaliachak police station}}</ref> After the violence, police have put in restrictions on people assembling by invoking [[section 144]] of Code of Criminal Procedure. Ten members of a BJP delegation led by sole party MLA of the state Samik Bhattacharya was stopped near Rathbari area as their appearance might fuel the agitation. The members arrested by the police were later released. Also three member fact finding team of BJP led by MP [[S. S. Ahluwalia]] was also deported from the [[Malda Town railway station|Malda station]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.telegraphindia.com/1160111/jsp/frontpage/story_63312.jsp#.Vp87Dvl97IU|title=BJP MPs turned back from Malda|work=The Telegraph}}</ref><ref name="Panwar 2016" /><ref name="Firstpost 2016"/><ref name=":1"/><ref name="Jansatta"/><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.5mm.in/news/news/86281/malda-violence-bjp-team-stopped-from-entering-kaliachak-10-held|title=Malda violence: BJP team stopped from entering Kaliachak, 10 held|work=.:: 5MM.IN - News|access-date=2016-01-12|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160125110959/http://www.5mm.in/news/news/86281/malda-violence-bjp-team-stopped-from-entering-kaliachak-10-held|archive-date=2016-01-25|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://indianexpress.com/article/india/india-news-india/malda-violence-bjp-team-stopped-from-entering-kaliachak-10-held/|title=Malda violence: BJP team stopped from entering Kaliachak, 10 held|date=7 January 2016|work=The Indian Express}}</ref>

The Malda chapter of the civil rights organisation, Association for Democratic Rights (APDR),<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.apdr.org.in/index.html|title=APDR|access-date=2016-01-12|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160127180332/http://www.apdr.org.in/index.html|archive-date=2016-01-27|url-status=dead}}</ref> has issued a statement that last Sunday's incident cannot be called "communal by a long shot." [[Malda district]] secretary of APDR, Jishnu Roy Chowdhury, has blamed miscreants for "triggering" unprecedented violence, which is "a symptom of lawlessness in the State."<ref>{{cite web|last1=Bagchi|first1=Suvojit|title='Malda not a fight between communities|url=http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/kolkata/malda-not-a-fight-between-communities/article8089732.ece|website=TheHindu|publisher=thehindu.com|accessdate=11 January 2016}}</ref>

== Clash of Poppy mafia and Police ==

According to some news reports, illegal [[Poppy (flower)|poppy]] cultivation and dealings are rampant in and around Kaliachak. Police and administration planned to destroy all the illegal cultivation of [[Poppy (flower)|poppy]] fields, a part has already been done as well. It is suspected that poppy mafia are involved in this clash during the protest of the Muslims. According to police about 1500 acre poppy field has been destroyed by the administration the previous week.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://eisamay.indiatimes.com/state/kaliachak-clash-because-of-poppy-mafia/articleshow/50556140.cms|title=Kaliachak clash because of poppy mafia - Eisamay|work=Eisamay}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://eisamay.indiatimes.com/state/heroin-and-poppy-is-the-main-buisness-at-kaliachak/articleshow/50571900.cms|title=Heroin and poppy is the main {{sic|nolink=y|buisness}} at kaliachak - Eisamay|work=Eisamay}}</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

{{IslamismSA}}
{{Riots in India}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Kaliachak riots}}

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[[Category:Islamic terrorism in India]]
[[Category:2016 crimes in India]]
[[Category:2016 riots]]
[[Category:2010s in West Bengal]]
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[[Category:January 2016 events in India]]
[[Category:Malda district]]
[[Category:Religiously motivated violence in India|Kaliachak]]
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[[Category:Religious riots]]

2016 Kaliachak riots - Revision history

MetaBOT at 18:57, 8 July 2023