2016 Coimbatore riots
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| 2016 Coimbatore riots | |
|---|---|
| Date | September 22–24, 2016 |
| Location | |
| Caused by | Murder of Hindu Munnani functionary C Sasikumar |
| Methods | |
| Resulted in | Riot stopped after 2 days |
| Casualties | |
| Injuries |
|
| Arrested | 650 people, mostly from Hindu Munnani |
| Detained |
|
| Damages | |
|---|---|
| All damages |
|
| Total estimated cost of the damages : ₹5 Crores[1] | |
The 2016 Coimbatore riots was a series of riots that took place in Coimbatore from September 22 to September 24, 2016, by members of the Hindu Munnani[2] after the murder of the outfit's district spokesperson, C Sasikumar.[3][4][5]
Sasikumar was attacked when he was returning to his home in his motor-cycle when unidentified men chased him in their motor-cycles and assaulted him with Sickles on September 22, 2016, in Subramaniampalayam, a place in the outskirts of the city.[6] Despite his injuries he managed to escape and later died in a private hospital.[7]
Meanwhile, more than 500 members of the Hindu Munnani gathered near the Coimbatore Medical College and Hospital(CMCH) where his body was taken for autopsy. The Hindu Munnani state president who also warned of "another Gujarat" in Tamil Nadu, called for a state-wide bandh in the following day.[7][8]
Riots
The violence reportedly started within hours of his murder on September 22 when three mosques were attacked with petrol bombs.[9][10]
During the funeral procession of Sasikumar from CMCH to Subramaniampalayam which was participated by mob consisting of members Hindu Munnani,[11] Rashtriya Swayamsevak sangh (RSS) and BJP.[12] Members of the Hindu Munnani started destroying the window panes of several shops and attacked several houses and commercial establishments mostly of Muslims, along their way. The mob also pelted stones at the buses and attacked several places of worship creating chaos.[13][2][10][9] When the procession reached the Thudiyalur, where Sasikumar lived, the mob turned their rage at the police and started pelting stones at the police which injured 12 policemen and also burned a Police jeep.[10] Media persons covering the funeral procession were also attacked and three police officers also sustained burn injuries.[14][15]
The mob also set several cars on fire and some members set fire and ransacked several Shops.[16] 1 Police jeep and an auto-rickshaw were burned down and at least 30 government buses were damaged by the rioters.[17][3] Eyewitness claimed that the mob went on a looting spree even in-front of the watching police.[5]
A Muslim man's mobile phone shop at Tutiyalur was looted and ransacked allegedly by members of Hindutva outfits after they broke into the shop at the night of September 24. The CCTV video of the looting quickly went viral on social media. The Muslim Community alleged that Muslim businesses were mostly targeted by the rioters.[18][5]
Tensions also prevailed in Tiruppur and most of the Shops were closed down in both the cities during the rampage. Some schools were also closed. Six special police teams have been formed to catch the rioters. Meanwhile, Muslim organizations asked the collector for an intervention by district administration to end the violence by Hindutva outfits.[6]
Damages
A joint petition by the Forum for Coimbatore People's Unity including several advocate's and political parties to the district collector in January 2019, reported that the rioters of the Hindu Munnani had damaged 10 private vehicles, 34 government buses, 39 shops belonging to Muslims, 15 shops belonging to the Hindus and 6 Police Vehicles. The report estimated the damages to about 5 crores.[1] The petition asked the district administration to collect 5 crores from Hindu Munnani and also accused the Hindu Munnani of trying to get political gains from the riots.[19]