2017 Northern India riots: Difference between revisions

The '''2017 Haryana riots''' began in [[Panchkula]] and later spread to other parts of [[northern India]]n states of [[Haryana]] and [[Punjab, India|Punjab]] and the capital [[New Delhi]].<ref name="The Hindu">{{cite news|title=Live updates: 28 dead, 250 injured as Dera chief conviction sets Haryana on fire|url=http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/other-states/live-updates-dera-sacha-sauda-chief-convicted-in-rape-case/article19558757.ece|accessdate=25 August 2017|work=[[The Hindu]]|date=25 August 2017}}</ref> At least 31 people were killed and 300 others were injured.<ref name="ToI2">{{cite news|title=Baba behind bars, followers run riot|url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/baba-behind-bars-followers-run-riot/articleshow/60228213.cms|accessdate=26 August 2017|work=[[Times of India]]|date=26 August 2017}}</ref><ref name="NYT">{{cite news|title=Violent Protests in India Turn Deadly After Guru’sGurmeet Ram Rahim’s Rape Conviction|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2017/08/25/world/asia/dealy-protests-indian-guru-rape-conviction.html|accessdate=25 August 2017|work=[[New York Times]]|date=25 August 2017}}</ref> The violence erupted after [[Guru]] [[Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh]] was convicted of rape.

According to [[Indian Railways]] spokesman, two train stations were burnt in ([[Malout]] and Balluanna) Punjab and two empty train coaches of [[Rewa - Anand Vihar Superfast Express|Rewa Express]] were set on fire in [[Delhi]]'s [[Anand Vihar Terminal railway station|Anand Vihar station]].<ref name="India Today"/><ref name="DAWN">{{cite news|title=At least 28 dead in riots after Indian guru's rape conviction|url=https://www.dawn.com/news/1353869/at-least-28-dead-in-riots-after-indian-gurus-rape-conviction|accessdate=25 August 2017|work=[[Dawn (newspaper)]]|date=25 August 2017}}</ref> The arsonists also attempted to set fire to Dagru railway station.<ref name="ToI"/> The rioters attacked the [[NDTV]] channel's [[OB Van]] and injured an engineer.<ref name="NDTV2"/> An [[India Today]] TV crew was attacked and its cameraman injured in [[Sirsa]]. Its OB van was also attacked by rioters in Panchkula. An Income Tax building<ref name="ToI"/> and two police vehicles were set on fire in [[Mansa, Punjab|Mansa]], Punjab. A telephone exchange was torched by the protesters in [[Chananwal]] in Punjab's [[Barnala district]].<ref name="India Today"/> A ''Sewa Kendra'' was set ablaze near [[Faridkot]].<ref name="ToI"/> At least 28 people were killed in Panchkula and three others were killed in Sirsa in India's northern Haryana state. More than 300 people were injured in the violence after police and paramilitary forces fired on charged mobs.<ref name="ToI2"/><ref name="Telegraph">{{cite news|last1=Bedi|first1=Rahul|title=Twenty-eight dead as violence erupts among devotees of India's 'guru of bling' following rape conviction|url=http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2017/08/25/indian-guru-convicted-rape-amid-fears-violent-reaction-thousands/|accessdate=25 August 2017|work=[[The Telegraph]]|date=25 August 2017}}</ref> Police fired tear gas, [[water cannon]]s and [[live ammunition]] while trying to disperse the mobs in Panchkula and near DSS [[ashram]] in [[Sirsa]].<ref name="FT"/> By 7:00 pm (local time), the violence subsided in Panchkula.<ref name="NDTV"/>

Indian President [[Ram Nath Kovind]] tweeted, "Violence and damage to public property after court verdict is highly condemnable; appeal to all citizens to maintain peace".<ref name="HT"/> Indian Prime Minister [[Narendra Modi]] condemned the violence and urged "everyone to maintain peace". While reviewing the situation with the National Security Advisor and the Home Secretary, he asked officials to "work round the clock to restore normalcy and provide all possible assistance that is required".<ref>{{cite news|title=‘Deeply distressing’: Modi comments on violence following Ram Rahim conviction|url=http://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/pm-modi-condemns-violence-in-haryana-punjab-following-ram-rahim-conviction/story-sYMgHQEh9MXKnQIFAhesvM.html|accessdate=25 August 2017|work=[[Hindustan Times]]|date=25 August 2017}}</ref> [[BJP]]'s Haryana Chief Minister [[Manohar Lal Khattar]] admitted that there were lapses but asserted appropriate action was being taken.<ref name="The Hindu"/>