Following the outbreak of communal violence in Bombay in December 1992 and January 1993 resulting from the destruction of the Ayodhya mosque, police imposed curfews and used armed force to disperse crowds (AIRN 12 Jan. 1993; ibid. 27 Jan. 1993) and some 2,500 additional security personnel were sent to the city (Keesing's Jan. 1993, 39270). Police arrested more than 2,900 people in connection with the riots and placed a further 3,000 in preventative detention (AIRN 14 Jan. 1993). Authorities also evacuated 3,000 residents of central Bombay to "safer places" (ibid. 13 Jan. 1993) and confiscated large quantities of arms (ibid. 15 Jan. 1993). Despite efforts their efforts to stop the violence, police were accused of aiding Hindu attacks on Muslims (AFP 14 Jan. 1994).

In order to prevent further communal violence, in February 1993 the government banned mass rallies of supporters of the pro-Hindu Bharatiya Janata Party (BNP) and arrested between 40,000 and 75,000 party followers (Keesing's Feb. 1993, 39322). Three major Hindu extremist organizations and one Islamic extremist group were also banned (ibid. June 1993, 39512).

Judicial inquiries into the Bombay riots were later launched by the government of Maharashtra (AIRN 16 Jan. 1993), and an aid package was announced to assist riot victims and to restore Bombay's economic activity (ibid. 15 Jan. 1993).

Communal violence also occurred in Bombay following a series of bomb blasts on 12 March 1993 (Keesing's Mar. 1993, 39270; Orlando Sentinel Tribune 13 Mar. 1993). Police later blamed the blasts on "criminal gangs" (ibid.), Pakistan (Reuters 11 Mar. 1994), and "radical Muslims" allegedly seeking revenge for the destruction of the mosque (AP 12 Mar. 1994).

In late May 1993 a Shiv Sena MLC (member of the Legislative Council) was assassinated (AIRN 29 May 1993), and in June army units were put on alert in Bombay following the assassination of a BNP MLC (ibid. 2 June 1993). Military and police units were brought into Bombay to prevent "any further attempts to create law and order problems" (ibid. 6 June 1993).

In March 1994, police took 2,700 people into preventative custody to prevent renewed communal violence on the anniversary of the bombing (AP 12 Mar. 1994). Police and army units were also put on alert in December 1993 to prevent violence from erupting on the anniversary of the destruction of the mosque (AFP 6 Dec. 1993; Reuters 6 Dec. 1993).

Information on major instances of communal violence in Bombay in during the second half of 1993 or early 1994 could not be found in the sources currently available to the DIRB, but media reports indicate that Hindu Muslim relations remained "tense" (AP 7 Dec. 1993; The Washington Post 12 Mar. 1994; New York Times 17 Apr. 1994).

For additional information on the January 1992-February 1993 Bombay riots and government response, please refer to the attached documents and to Responses to Information Requests IND16411.E of 15 Feb 1994, IND16409.E of 11 February 1994, IND15711.E and IND15832.E of 12 November 1993, IND15391.E of 12 October 1993 and IND14184.E of 25 May 1993, available at your Regional Documentation Centre.

This response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the DIRB within time constraints. This response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim to refugee status or asylum.

References

Agence France Press (AFP). 6 December 1993. "Bombay Tense on Ayodhya Anniversary." (NEXIS)

[Hong Kong, in English]. 14 January 1993. "Police Accused of Aiding Hindu Attacks on Muslims." (FBIS-NES-93-009 14 Jan. 1993, p. 49)

All India Radio Network (AIRN) [Delhi, in English]. 6 June 1993. "Army Withdrawn." (FBIS-NES-93-107 7 June 1993, p. 59)

. 2 June 1993. "Army on Alert in Bombay After Slaying of BJP Lawmaker." (FBIS-NES-93-105 3 June 1993, p. 34)

. 29 May 1993. "Hindu Shiv Sena Party Leader Shot to Death in Bombay." (FBIS-NES-93-103 1 June 1993, p. 55)

. 27 January 1993. "Rioting Flares in Bombay; 2 Killed." (FBIS-NES-93-017 28 Jan. 1993, p. 55)

. 16 January 1993. "Inquiry Into Riot Ordered." (FBIS-NES-93-013 19 Jan. 1993, pp. 82-83)

. 15 January 1993. "Rao Visits Riot-Torn Bombay; Assesses Situation." (FBIS-NES-93-010 15 Jan. 1993, p. 54-55)

. 15 January 1993. "Rao Announces Economic Assistance Package for Bombay." (FBIS-NES-93-013 19 Jan. 1993, pp. 81-82)

. 14 January 1993. "Bombay 'Limping Back to Normal,' Gujarat Peaceful." (FBIS-NES-93-009 14 Jan. 1993, p. 49)

. 13 January 1993. "Curfew Relaxed in 19 Bombay Areas." (FBIS-NES-93-008 13 Jan. 1993, p. 43)

. 12 January 1993. "Situation in Bombay, Gujarat 'Improving'." (FBIS-NES-93-007 12 Jan. 1993, p. 57)

The Associated Press (AP). 12 March 1994. "Police Take 2,700 People into Custody." (NEXIS)

. 7 December 1993. Thomas Wagner. "Hindu-Muslim Relations Remain Tense One Year After Ayodhya." (NEXIS)

Keesing's Record of World Events [Cambridge]. January 1993. Vol. 39, No. 1. "India: Communal Violence."

. February 1993. Vol. 39, No. 2. "India: Banning of BJP Rally."

. March 1993. Vol. 39. No. 3. "Bomb Explosions in Bombay and Calcutta."

. June 1993. Vol. 39, No. 6. "Lifting of Ban on Extremist Organizations."

The New York Times. 17 April 1994. Final Edition. John F. Burns. "Riot Scars Are Gone, But Bombay is Still Healing." (NEXIS)

Orlando Sentinel Tribune. 13 March 1993. 3 Star Edition. "String of Bombs Kills 200 In India." (NEXIS)

Reuters. 11 Mar. 1994. BC Cycle. Moses Manoharan. "A Year After Bombay Blasts, Victims Carry Scars." (NEXIS)

. 6 December 1993. BC Cycle. "Bombay Police Hold 325, Moslems Strike over Shrine." (NEXIS)

The Washington Post. 12 March 1994. Final Edition. John Ward Anderson. "India's Muslims Fear New Physical Threat; Militant Hindu Nationalism, Discrimination Solidify Group's Sense of Alienation." (NEXIS)

Attachments

Agence France Press (AFP). 14 January 1994. "Bombay Doctor Among 13 Arrested for Serial Train Blasts." (NEXIS)

. 6 December 1993. "Bombay Tense on Ayodhya Anniversary." (NEXIS)

. 4 November 1993. "189 Charged with Bombay Bombings, Pakistan Accused." (NEXIS)

[Hong Kong, in English]. 14 January 1993. "Police Accused of Aiding Hindu Attacks on Muslims." (FBIS-NES-93-009 14 Jan. 1993, p. 49)

All India Radio Network [Delhi, in English]. 6 June 1993. "Army Withdrawn." (FBIS-NES-93-107 7 June 1993, p. 59)

. 2 June 1993. "Army on Alert in Bombay After Slaying of BJP Lawmaker." (FBIS-NES-93-105 3 June 1993, p. 34)

. 29 May 1993. "Hindu Shiv Sena Party Leader Shot to Death in Bombay." (FBIS-NES-93-103 1 June 1993, p. 55)

. 27 January 1993. "Rioting Flares in Bombay: 2 Killed." (FBIS-NES-93-017 28 Jan. 1993, p. 55)

. 16 January 1993. "Inquiry Into Riot Ordered." (FBIS-NES-93-013 19 Jan. 1993, pp. 82-83)

. 15 January 1993. "Rao Visits Riot-Torn Bombay: Assesses Situation." (FBIS-NES-93-010 15 Jan. 1993, pp. 54-55)

. 15 January 1993. "Curfew Relaxed in 8 Areas." (FBIS-NES-93-010 15 Jan. 1993, p. 55)

. 15 January 1993. "Rao Announces Economic Assistance Package for Bombay." (FBIS-NES-93-013 19 Jan. 1993, pp. 81-82)

. 14 January 1993. "Bombay 'Limping Back to Normal,' Gujarat Peaceful." (FBIS-NES-93-009 14 Jan. 1993, p. 49)

. 13 January 1993. "Curfew Relaxed in 19 Bombay Areas." (FBIS-NES-93-008 13 Jan. 1993, p. 43)

. 13 January 1993. "'Distinct Improvement' in Bombay Situation Noted." (FBIS-NES-93-009 14 Jan. 1993, p. 48)

. 12 January 1993. "Bombay Violence: MP Resigns." (FBIS-NES-93-008 13 Jan. 1993, p. 42)

.12 January 1993. "Situation in Bombay, Gujarat 'Improving'." (FBIS-NES-93-007 12 Jan. 1993, p. 57)

The Associated Press (AP). 12 March 1994. "Police Take 2,700 People into Custody." (NEXIS)

. 7 December 1993. Thomas Wagner. "Hindu-Muslim Relations Remain Tense One Year After Ayodhya." (NEXIS)

Chicago Tribune. 13 March 1993. North Sports Final Edition. "Bombings Kill 200 in Bombay." (NEXIS)

Houston Chronicle. 10 December 1992. 4 Star Edition. "Death Toll Reaches 820 In India; Curfews Eased in Some Areas of Hindu-Muslim Fighting." (NEXIS)

Keesing's Record of World Events [Cambridge]. Vol. 39, No. 1. "India: Communal Violence," p. 39270.

. February 1993. Vol. 39, No. 2. "India: Banning of BJP Rally," p. 39322.

. March 1993. Vol. 39. No. 3. "Bomb Explosions in Bombay and Calcutta," p. 39370.

. June 1993. Vol. 39, No. 6. "Lifting of Ban on Extremist Organizations," p. 39512.

The New York Times. 17 April 1994. Final Edition. John F. Burns. "Riot Scars Are Gone, But Bombay is Still Healing." (NEXIS)

. 18 January 1993. Final Edition. Sanjoy Hazarika. "India's Business Devastated." (NEXIS)

Orlando Sentinel Tribune. 13 March 1993. 3 Star Edition. "String of Bombs Kills 200 In India." (NEXIS)

Reuters. 11 Mar. 1994. BC Cycle. Moses Manoharan. "A Year After Bombay Blasts, Victims Carry Scars." (NEXIS)

. 6 December 1993. BC Cycle. "Bombay Police Hold 325, Moslems Strike over Shrine." (NEXIS)

. 5 November 1993. BC Cycle. Moses Manoharan. "Bombay Bombers Admit Pakistan Links-Police." (NEXIS)

St. Petersburg Times. 8 December 1992. City Edition. Reena Shah. "Hindus, Muslims Riot in Name of Religion." (NEXIS)

The United Press International (UPI). 15 October 1993. BC Cycle. "Muslim Accused in Bombay Bombings Denies Involvement." (NEXIS)

The Washington Post. 12 March 1994. Final Edition. John Ward Anderson. "India's Muslims Fear New Physical Threat; Militant Hindu Nationalism, Discrimination Solidify Group's Sense of Alienation." (NEXIS)