Jaya at 18:06, 1 April 2026

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{{Short description|Riot in India}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2021}}
{{Use Indian English|date=October 2021}}
{{Infobox civil conflict
| title = 2021 Tripura Riots
| subtitle =
| partof =
| image =
| caption =
| date = 20 – 29 October 2021
| place = [[Tripura]], India
| coordinates =
| causes = Vandalisations of mosques
| goals =
| methods =
| status =
| result =
| side1 = [[Vishva Hindu Parishad]]<br/>[[Hindu Jagran Manch]]
| side2 = Local authorities
| side3 =
| side4 =
| leadfigures1 =
| leadfigures2 =
| leadfigures3 =
| leadfigures4 =
| howmany1 = 10,000+
| howmany2 =
| howmany3 =
| howmany4 =
| casualties1 =
| casualties2 =
| casualties3 =
| casualties4 =
| fatalities =
| injuries = 15
| arrests = 102
| buildings = 110+
| detentions =
| charged =
| notes =
| sidebox =
}}

The '''2021 Tripura riots''' happened in the [[Tripura|eponymous state]] of north-eastern India.

The riots started on 20 October 2021, mainly triggered by the vandalisations of "mosques" in the state. The situation deteriorated after several rallies were taken out by [[Vishwa Hindu Parishad]] (VHP) on 21 and 26 October. Some [[miscreants]] attacked a small [[mosque]], some shops and houses belonging to families from the minority community during the rally. [[Section 144]]{{Explain|date=November 2023|reason=Explain what actually happened and what was imposed because the wiki-link doesn't even explain what the law allows. The section only indicates orders can be issued, not what these permit to happen. Explain what was imposed. Martial Law? Curfews? Something else?}} was imposed soon after.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://thewire.in/communalism/tripura-mosque-vandalised-shops-houses-attacked-vhp-rally|title = Tripura: Mosque Vandalised, Shops and Houses Attacked During VHP Rally}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.newslaundry.com/2021/10/28/tripura-violence-with-no-hindu-muslim-riots-in-decades-what-led-to-the-recent-brutality-in-the-state|title = Tripura violence: With no Hindu-Muslim riots in decades, what led to the recent attacks in the state?| date=28 October 2021 }}</ref><ref name="Indian Express 27 Oct" />

==Background==
{{see also|Violence against Muslims in India}}
83.40% of Tripura's population is [[Hindu]],<ref>{{Cite web|title=Tripura Population 2021|url=https://www.indiacensus.net/states/tripura|work=India Census|access-date=6 November 2021}}</ref> with a significant number of Hindus migrating from Bangladesh.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Shahid|first=Rudabeh|date=2021-10-28|title=Explained: Why religious fault lines are emerging in Tripura|url=https://scroll.in/article/1008662/explained-why-religious-fault-lines-are-emerging-in-tripura|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211111172246/https://scroll.in/article/1008662/explained-why-religious-fault-lines-are-emerging-in-tripura|archive-date=2021-11-11|access-date=2021-11-18|website=Scroll.in|language=en-US}}</ref> Locals see the recent violence in Tripura as a response to [[2021 Bangladesh communal violence|recent violence against Hindus in neighboring Bangladesh]]'s [[Comilla District]]. The opposition parties like [[All India Trinamool Congress|TMC]] and [[CPI(M)]] also alleged that [[BJP]] and its allies were trying to use the recent violence in Bangladesh and Tripura to [[political polarization|polarise]] the voters ahead of the municipal elections in the state in November.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-india-59047517|title = Tripura: Anti-Muslim violence flares up in Indian state|work = BBC News|date = 28 October 2021}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/asia/india/tripura-violence-vhp-rally-mosque-b1946854.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211028155132/https://www.independent.co.uk/asia/india/tripura-violence-vhp-rally-mosque-b1946854.html |archive-date=2021-10-28 |url-access=limited |url-status=live|title = Tripura: Tit-for-tat communal violence grips northeastern Indian state|website = [[The Independent]]|date = 28 October 2021}}</ref>

==Timeline==
In protest against the violence in [[Bangladesh]], rallies were held by [[Vishwa Hindu Parishad]] (VHP) and the [[Hindu Jagran Manch]] (HJM), among others. Participants in a rally held by VHP and HJM at Udaipur in [[Gomati district]] on October 21 clashed with police as the latter denied them permission to enter localities with mixed populations. Fifteen people including three [[policemen]] were injured in the incident. At [[Dharmanagar]] in north Tripura, a 10,000-strong rally was carried out on October 21 by different organisation's including VHP and the HJM.<ref name="Indian Express 27 Oct">{{cite news |title=Tripura: Mosque vandalised, two shops set on fire during VHP rally |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/north-east-india/tripura/tripura-mosque-vandalised-two-shops-set-on-fire-during-vhp-rally-7592208/ |access-date=8 November 2021 |work=The Indian Express |date=27 October 2021 |language=en}}</ref>

After these incidents, rumours began circulating both offline and online. On October 23, images of a broken [[Shiva]] idol went viral on [[social media]]. Police later said that the Shiva idol was found in an abandoned place atop a local hilltop, surrounded by thick [[vegetation]]. They said there was no way to tell if it was broken due to natural causes or if someone broke it.<ref name="Indian Express 27 Oct" />

On October 26, a protest rally was taken out by VHP at [[Panisagar]] in north Tripura. A section of the protesters allegedly [[vandalised]] a few houses and burnt some shops at Rowa Bazar. On the same day, some [[activists]] who had joined the rally allegedly vandalised a local [[mosque]] at Chamtilla village, around 800 yards from Rowa Bazar.

Later in the night, a large gathering of people showed up from [[minority group|minority]] dominated localities in Churaibari. The administration then dispersed the gathering through discussions. [[Section 144]] was imposed at Panisagar and Darmanagar.

On October 29 unidentified [[miscreants]] vandalised a local [[thatched]]-walled [[Kali]] [[Temple]] at Kailashahar of [[Unakoti]] district. Local Hindus and Muslims came together and rebuilt the thatched walls of the temple.<ref>{{cite news |title=Vandalism, communal unrest: What's happening in Tripura and why? |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/explained/explained-vandalism-communal-unrest-tripura-bangladesh-7599790/ |access-date=8 November 2021 |work=The Indian Express |date=2 November 2021 |language=en}}</ref>

==Aftermath==
Upon a complaint by [[All India Trinamool Congress|AITC]] spokesperson Saket Gokhale, the [[National Human Rights Commission of India|National Human Rights Commission]] on November 3 sought a report on the riot from [[Chief secretary (India)|Chief Secretary]] of the state and [[Tripura Police#Administration|Director General of Police]].<ref>{{Cite web|date=3 November 2021|title=Tripura Violence : NHRC Seeks Report From State Govt On TMC Spokesperson Saket Gokhale's Complaint|url=https://www.livelaw.in/news-updates/nhrc-report-state-govt-tripura-violence-tmc-spokesperson-saket-gokhale-complaint-184896|work=LiveLaw.in|access-date=5 November 2021}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|date=4 November 2021|title=NHRC seeks report from Tripura after TMC files complaint of violence against minorities|url=https://indianexpress.com/article/north-east-india/tripura/nhrc-seeks-report-from-tripura-after-tmc-files-complaint-of-violence-against-minorities-7606575/|work=The Indian Express|access-date=5 November 2021}}</ref>

=== Suppression of press freedom ===
A four-member fact-finding team of Supreme Court lawyers visited the area on 29–30 October and released a report highlighting the anti-Muslim nature of violence.<ref name=":1" /> Days later, [[Tripura Police]] invoked [[Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act|stringent anti-terror laws]] against two of them for “promoting enmity between religious groups as well as provoking people of different religious communities to commit breach of peace”.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web|date=4 November 2021|title=Tripura Violence: UAPA Charges Levied Against Lawyers From Fact-Finding Team|url=https://thewire.in/communalism/tripura-violence-uapa-charges-levied-against-lawyers-from-fact-finding-team|work=The Wire|access-date=8 November 2021}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|date=4 November 2021|title=Tripura violence: Delhi lawyer booked under UAPA for promoting enmity|url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/71-booked-for-provocative-social-media-posts-over-communal-violence-in-tripura-101635933597857.html|work=Hindustan Times|access-date=8 November 2021}}</ref> The police also filed charges under the same provisions against 102 people including journalists<ref>{{Cite web|date=7 November 2021|title=Editors Guild condemns police action against journalists in Tripura under UAPA|url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/editors-guild-condemns-police-action-against-journalists-in-tripura-under-uapa-101636286346781.html|access-date=8 November 2021|work=Hindustan Times}}</ref> for protesting, or even merely mentioning, the communal violence on social media platforms and asked social media platforms to freeze their accounts.<ref>{{Cite web|date=6 November 2021|title=Tripura Police Books 102 People Under UAPA for Social Media Posts Against Communal Violence|url=https://thewire.in/communalism/tripura-police-uapa-social-media-posts|access-date=8 November 2021|work=The Wire}}</ref><ref name="Wire Tripura Guild">{{cite news|date=7 November 2021|title='Deeply Shocked': Editor's Guild, IWPC React to Tripura Police Booking 102 Under UAPA|work=The Wire|url=https://thewire.in/media/deeply-shocked-editors-guild-reacts-to-tripura-police-booking-102-under-uapa|access-date=8 November 2021}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|date=8 November 2021|title='Sheer Misuse of UAPA': Journalists, Lawyers Slam Tripura Police's Cases on Them|url=https://www.thequint.com/news/india/sheer-misuse-of-uapa-journalists-lawyers-slam-tripura-polices-cases-on-them|access-date=8 November 2021|work=The Quint}}</ref> The 5 journalists include in the lists are Maktoob Media journalist Meer Faisal, NewsClick senior news editor Shyam Meera Singh, freelance journalist with [[BBC]] and [[The Guardian]] Sartaj Alam, Arif Shah and C.J. Werleman, global correspondent of London-based monthly newspaper [[Byline Times]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://cpj.org/2021/11/indian-police-open-terror-investigation-into-5-journalists/|title = Indian police open terror investigation into 5 journalists|date = 12 November 2021}}</ref>

[[People's Union for Civil Liberties]] as well as [[Editors Guild of India]] condemned the coercive actions as malicious and requested the state government for committing to a proper investigation instead of penalizing activists.<ref>{{Cite web|last=|first=|date=2021-11-07|title=PUCL condemns Tripura Police's case on lawyers for fact-finding report on communal violence|url=https://caravanmagazine.in/noticeboard/pucl-statement-tripura-violence-police-action|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211111020635/https://caravanmagazine.in/noticeboard/pucl-statement-tripura-violence-police-action|archive-date=2021-11-11|access-date=2021-11-17|website=The Caravan|language=en}}</ref> Several people filed a petition with the [[Supreme Court of India|Supreme Court]] seeking to quash the UAPA charges registered against them.<ref>{{Cite web|date=11 November 2021|title=UAPA: Supreme Court agrees to fix date to hear plea to quash FIRs by Tripura police|url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/other-states/supreme-court-agrees-to-fix-date-to-hear-plea-to-quash-firs-by-tripura-police/article37432684.ece|access-date=11 November 2021|work=The Hindu}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|date=11 November 2021|title=Supreme Court To Hear Plea Of Journalist To Nix Tripura Anti-Terror Case|url=https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/tripura-violence-supreme-court-agrees-to-hear-journalist-shyam-meer-singhs-plea-against-tripura-police-fir-2606671|access-date=11 November 2021|work=NDTV}}</ref><ref name="Wire Tripura Guild" /> On 17 November, the Supreme Court of India granted immunity to all coercive action.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Ojha|first=Srishti|date=2021-11-17|title=Supreme Court Restrains Tripura Police From Coercive Steps Against 2 Lawyers & 1 Journalist Booked Under UAPA|url=https://www.livelaw.in/top-stories/supreme-court-orders-no-coercive-steps-against-2-lawyers-1-journalist-booked-under-uapa-by-tripura-police-185707|access-date=2021-11-18|website=www.livelaw.in|language=en}}</ref>

On 15 November, two female journalists were arrested from Assam for fomenting a "sense of hatred between communities" by circulating "doctored videos", after members of [[Vishva Hindu Parishad]] had filed a complaint against them (in Tripura) for reporting on an incident of mosque burning and thereby, "maligning the image of Tripura government".<ref>{{cite news |title=Two women journalists booked in Tripura, detained in Assam |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/other-states/two-delhi-journalists-booked-in-tripura-detained-in-assam/article37496097.ece |work=The Hindu |date=15 November 2021 |language=en-IN}}</ref><ref name=":0">{{Cite web|last=PTI|date=2021-11-15|title=2 women journalists, arrested by Tripura Police for covering communal violence, get bail|url=https://theprint.in/india/2-women-journalists-arrested-by-tripura-police-for-covering-communal-violence-get-bail/766513/|access-date=2021-11-18|website=ThePrint|language=en-US}}</ref> The [[Editors Guild of India]] asked for a swift withdrawal of all charges, and characterized the police actions as a foil to deflect public attention from its own failings in dealing with majoritarian violence.<ref name="Guild Hindu Tripura">{{cite news|date=7 November 2021|title=Editors Guild shocked by Tripura Police's move|language=en-IN|work=The Hindu|url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/other-states/editors-guild-shocked-by-tripura-polices-move/article37367733.ece|access-date=8 November 2021}}</ref> On 15 November, the Chief Judicial Magistrate of Gomati district granted them bail against sureties of INR 7500.<ref name=":0" />

==References==
{{reflist}}

{{Riots in India}}

{{coord missing|Tripura}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Tripura riots, 2021}}
[[Category:2021 crimes in India]]
[[Category:2021 riots]]
[[Category:Anti-Muslim riots in India]]
[[Category:Mosque arson in India]]
[[Category:Crime in Tripura]]
[[Category:October 2021 in India]]
[[Category:Attacks on Hindu temples in India]]
[[Category:Attacks on shops in India]]
[[Category:Attacks on buildings and structures in 2021]]
[[Category:2021 in Islam]]
[[Category:October 2021 crimes in Asia]]
[[Category:Bangladesh–India relations]]
[[Category:2020s in Tripura]]
[[Category:Attacks on mosques in the 2020s]]
[[Category:Attacks on residential buildings in India]]
[[Category:Arson in 2021]]
[[Category:2021 fires in Asia]]

2021 Tripura riots - Revision history

Jaya at 18:06, 1 April 2026