1992–1993 Bombay riots

1992–1993 Bombay riots
Title	1992–1993 Bombay riots
Date	December 1992 – January 1993
Place	Bombay, Maharashtra, India
Causes	Communal tensions after Babri Masjid demolition, political mobilization by Shiv Sena, retaliatory violence following Babri Masjid events
Methods	Rioting, arson, mob violence, shootings, riots
Fatalities	Estimates vary; officially ~900–2,000
Injuries	Thousands
Arrests	Hundreds
Convictions	Dozens

1992–1993 Bombay riots were a series of communal disturbances in Bombay (now Mumbai), Maharashtra, following the Babri Masjid demolition and during the campaign surrounding the 1993 Bombay bombings. The riots involved clashes between supporters of Shiv Sena, activists associated with Hindu Mahasabha-affiliated groups, and Muslim residents of neighborhoods like Bhendi Bazaar and Mumbadevi, with responses from the Bombay Police, Maharashtra State Government, and Indian Army in some areas. The violence had deep links to communal politics associated with figures such as Bal Thackeray, and intersected with national debates involving the Bharatiya Janata Party and organizations like the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh.

Background

Communal tensions in Bombay had precedents in events like the 1970s riots, the 1984 anti-Sikh riots, and the influence of socio-political movements including the Hindu nationalist movement and organizations such as the Vishwa Hindu Parishad and Bharatiya Kisan Sangh. The demolition of the Babri Masjid on 6 December 1992 by activists associated with the Ram Janmabhoomi movement intensified mobilization by the Shiv Sena, the Bharatiya Janata Party, and allied groups, while Muslim organizations such as the All India Muslim Personal Law Board and local bodies in Maharashtra mobilized communal networks in response. Economic and demographic pressures in neighborhoods like Dharavi, Dongri, and Pawnbazar compounded tensions amid policing strains on the Bombay Police and administrative challenges for the Governor of Maharashtra and the Chief Minister of Maharashtra.

Outbreak and Timeline of Violence

Violence began in early December 1992 with processions and counter-processions in areas including Fort and Byculla, escalating after communal rallies by leaders linked to Shiv Sena and protests organized by Muslim groups in locales such as Mazgaon and Parel. Clashes peaked between December 1992 and January 1993, coinciding with incendiary speeches in venues associated with Shiv Sena Bhavan and demonstrations around temples and mosques including the Mumbadevi Temple precincts and local jamia masjids. The timeline included episodes of arson in commercial corridors like Crawford Market and Zaveri Bazaar, pitched battles in residential localities such as Bhendi Bazaar and Dongri, and interventions by units including the Bombay Battalion of paramilitary forces and detachments from the Indian Army when law-and-order responsibilities were assumed by the Governor of Maharashtra.

Key Incidents and Sites

Key sites included Bhendi Bazaar, Dongri, Byculla, Bhuleshwar, Mazgaon, Parel, Dharavi, Zaveri Bazaar, and Crawford Market. Notable incidents comprised mass arson attacks on housing clusters and markets, targeted killings near Haji Ali Dargah precincts, assaults around the Mumbadevi Temple area, and coordinated attacks on bus routes linking suburbs like Kurla and Bandra. Several notable confrontations drew media coverage by outlets such as The Times of India, The Indian Express, and The Hindu, and commentary from public intellectuals associated with institutions like JNU and Tata Institute of Social Sciences.

Perpetrators and Organization

Perpetrators included organized mobs with participation by activists from Shiv Sena, local criminal elements with links to underworld figures associated with Mumbai's organized crime networks, and retaliatory groups among Muslim residents with ties to local associations including the Jamaat-e-Islami Hind and community committees. Political leaders implicated in fomenting unrest included personalities from Shiv Sena and Bharatiya Janata Party ranks, while administrative actors from the Maharashtra State Police and municipal authorities in the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation faced allegations of partiality. Investigations later examined the roles of individuals and groups connected to the Hindu nationalist movement, right-wing organizations, and the local syndicates that operated in precincts such as Zaveri Bazaar and Crawford Market.

Impact and Casualties

Casualty estimates varied: official figures cited roughly 900 fatalities while independent organizations and journalists suggested numbers up to 2,000, with thousands injured and displaced. Property losses included destruction in markets like Crawford Market and Zaveri Bazaar, damage to places of worship including mosques and temples in Dongri and Mumbadevi, and long-term economic displacement in slum areas such as Dharavi. The social impact affected communal relations across Maharashtra and had repercussions in national politics involving the Bharatiya Janata Party, Indian National Congress, and civil society organizations including the People's Union for Civil Liberties and human rights groups linked to the National Human Rights Commission (India).

Investigations, Commissions and Trials

Responses included judicial inquiries and commissions such as the Srikrishna Commission, criminal investigations by the Bombay Police and special prosecutors, and subsequent trials in sessions courts and the Bombay High Court. The Srikrishna Commission produced a detailed report attributing culpability to political leaders and administrative failures, prompting debates in the Supreme Court of India and interventions by civil rights lawyers from institutions like the Bar Council of India. Convictions and acquittals over years involved complex legal questions concerning evidence, witness protection, and prosecutorial conduct, with appeals reaching appellate courts including the Supreme Court of India.

Aftermath and Political Consequences

The riots reshaped communal politics in Bombay and influenced the atmosphere leading up to the 1993 Bombay bombings, affecting parties like Shiv Sena, Bharatiya Janata Party, and Indian National Congress. Urban policy and policing reforms were debated in forums including the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation and the Ministry of Home Affairs (India), while civil society responses from groups like the People's Union for Civil Liberties and academic bodies prompted discussions at universities such as University of Mumbai and Tata Institute of Social Sciences. Long-term consequences included shifts in electoral politics in Maharashtra, communal segregation patterns in neighborhoods like Bhendi Bazaar and Dharavi, and ongoing legal and historical contestation over accountability assessed by scholars from institutions including Jawaharlal Nehru University and international observers.

Category:History of Mumbai Category:Communal riots in India