The communal violence that began in Haryana's Nuh on Monday spread to nearby Gurugram on Tuesday. One death in Gurugram drove the death toll to five.
In Nuh, four people were killed on Monday, including two Home Guard personnel, when a mob attacked a Hindu organisation's religious procession. Later in Gurugram after midnight, a mob attacked an under-construction mosque and its imam (mosque's leader) was killed in the attack.
Besides the five dead, over 50 have been injured so far, including 10 police personnel.
Following the violence, the Harayana government imposed curfew in Nuh and suspended internet services in Nuh and neighbouring Faridabad up to Wednesday.
Haryana Home Minister Anil Vij has termed the violence in Nuh and Gurugram as "engineered".
Here we explain how the Haryana communal violence began and list all the latest updates.
1. Death toll rises to 4 in Nuh
The death toll in Haryana's Nuh has risen to four. The deceased include two Home Guard personnel.
The two Home Guard personnel have been identified as Neeraj and Gursewak. The third victim has been identified as Bhadas village resident Shakti, reported PTI, adding the the identity of the fourth person has not yet been ascertained.
Over 50 persons have been injured, including 10 police personnel. The injured police personnel include Hodal Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Sajjan Singh, who was shot in the head, and an inspector who was shot in the stomach, according to PTI.
The violence erupted in Nuh after a religious procession of the Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP) came under an attack from a mob. Stones were pelted at the procession, bullets were fired, and vehicles were set on fire. People from the procession also hurled stones back after coming under attack. Around 2,500 persons from the procession took shelter at a temple in Nuh and were stranded there for several hours until they were rescued by police.
NDTV reported that rioters gathered on the hillocks around the temple and attacked those sheltering inside.
"When NDTV visited the temple, about 7 km from Nuh town, the Aravallis surrounding the temple looked scenic. Hours before, rioters gathered on these hillocks had fired shots and thrown stones as those inside the temple cowered into corners, hoping to survive those hours of horror...The temple has been cleared and paramilitary personnel are keeping a close watch. The burnt vehicles —reports put their number around 50— have been removed from the entrance," reported NDTV.
2. Mosque attacked in Gurugram, imam killed
The violence in Nuh spread to Gurugram as attacks took place on two occasions.
Firstly, a mob attacked a a shop and some vehicles in Sohna area of Gurugram. Later after midnight, a mob attacked an under-construction mosque in Sector 57 and the imam of the mosque died from his injuries.
The murdered imam has been identified as Saad, 26, a native of Bihar. The mosque was also set on fire.
"The mob opened fire in which two people were injured...According to the police, the mob reached the Anjuman Masjid in Sector 57 after midnight. Some people in the crowd opened fire at the people present in the mosque and also set it ablaze," reported PTI.
Earlier on Monday, as the news of violence in Muslim-dominated Nuh spread, mobs in adjoining Gurugram Sohna area set four vehicles and a shop on fire, apparently belonging to people from that community, reported PTI, adding that protesters blocked a road for hours.
3. Eatery set on fire in Gurugram on Tuesday
In fresh violence on Tuesday, an eatery was set on fire in Gurugram's Badshahpur area and some shops were vandalised. The market was shut after the violence.
The mob ransacked some shops belonging to a particular community and also chanted "Jai Shri Ram" in front of a mosque in Badshahpur, reported PTI.
Visuals from the site of violence have surfaced in media reports.
A fire brigade team reached the spot and controlled the blaze, said police.
The Badshahpur market was also shut down, police said.
After getting information about the fresh violence, police reached the spot but the rioters managed to flee on their bikes and other vehicles by then, officials told PTI, adding some suspects have been detained.
The PTI reported that there are reports of some shanties being set on fire on Kadarpur road, but the police have denied it.
4. Delhi Police on alert as violence spreads to Gurugram
The Delhi Police has enhanced the vigil in the national capital as communal violence spread to Gurugram next door.
Officials told PTI that the police have enhanced patrolling and alert has been sounded.
Police visibility has been increased in areas with mixed populations and sensitive places, reported PTI, adding that drones are also being used.
"Keeping North Delhi safe and serene! Police deploys cutting-edge drone survey to watch over the area, ensuring harmony prevails and public safety remains top-notch," the Delhi Police tweeted.
According to the police, foot patrolling is being done in many areas and senior police officers are interacting with locals, reported PTI, adding that barricades are being placed at bordering areas and checking is also being done.
An officer told PTI that the force was holding meetings with peace committees.
"We are urging them to maintain peace in their areas. Social media monitoring is also being done," the officer said.
Another senior police officer told PTI that the Delhi Police keeps a tab on the incidents in neighbouring states as well as other parts of the country that may have impact on the national capital. The officer further said the force is prepared to respond to any situation arising in the national capital as a result of such incidents in neighbouring areas.
5. Curfew imposed in Nuh, internet suspended in region
Following the communal violence, the government imposed curfew in Nuh and suspended internet in Nuh and nearby Faridabad districts until Wednesday.
Educational institutes were ordered to remain shut on Tuesday in Gurugram, Faridabad, and Palwal districts as a precautionary measure, reported PTI.
6. Haryana CM Khattar suspects 'conspiracy' in communal violence
Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar on Tuesday said that he suspects a "conspiracy" behind the communal violence in Nuh and Gurugram on Monday.
Khattar termed the incident as "unfortunate" and said said a "big conspiracy" appears to be there.
He told ANI, "This is an unfortunate incident. A Yatra was being organised during which some people conspired an attack Yatris and the police. Violent incidents were reported at several places. There seems to be a big conspiracy behind this."
7. Haryana Home Minister Vij calls violence 'engineered'
Haryana Home Minister Anil Vij said the communal violence in Nuh and Gurugram appeared to be "engineered".
Vij told PTI, "Somebody masterminded it (the violence) but I do not want to reach any conclusions. We will investigate this and every single person responsible will be brought to justice."
8. Over 100 vehicles damaged, dozens detained so far: Details of violence
A total of 120 vehicles were damaged during the violence on Monday in Nuh, reported PTI.
Of these vehicles, 50 vehicles belonged to the police, reported PTI.
Haryana CM ML Khattar said that around 70 people have been taken into custody over the violence.
Giving details of the legal action taken so far, Khattar told ANI, "Heavy police have been deployed in Nuh district and nearby areas. Curfew has also been imposed in Nuh and Section 144 has been imposed in some places. Around 44 FIRs have been registered and 70 people have been taken into custody. Strict actions will be taken against them."
9. 16 companies of paramilitary forces reach Nuh
Sixteen companies of paramilitary forces have reached Nuh, reported PTI.
The PTI also quoted CM Khattar as saying that 40 companies of Haryana Police are also deployed in Nuh.
10. Monu Manesar says he was not present at procession
The trigger for the initial attack was an objectionable video posted on social media by a Bajrang Dal activist in Ballabhgarh, reported PTI, citing claims made about the violence. The news agency further said there were also reports that Monu Manesar, a cow vigilante wanted in the murder of two Muslim men from Rajasthan, was supposed to join the VHP's yatra.
Around 1,000 police personnel were deployed at three sites along the route of the procession.
Even as reports emerged that Monu Manesar, a cow vigilante booked earlier for the murder of two Muslim men from Rajasthan in February, was supposed to join the procession, he confirmed to PTI that he did not participate on the advice of the VHP, which feared that his presence would create tension.
The Opposition Congress and Indian National Lok Dal (INLD) on Monday targeted the BJP-JJP government in Haryana over the Nuh violence, alleging that the ruling combine has failed on the law and order front.
Nuh MLA Chaudhary Aftab blamed the entire episode on Manu. He said he had asked the administration to not give permission for the procession.
"People were already angry with the statements of Monu Manesar, Bittu Bajrangi and rumours spread that Monu had come to Manesar... so the violence started. I told the administration a day ago that the atmosphere is deteriorating, do not give permission (for the procession). But they did not agree. All this happened due to Monu Manesar's statement," said Chaudhary of Congress, as per NDTV.
