Communal clashes erupt during Hindu festival in Karnataka State

Violent communal clashes erupted between the Hindu and Muslim communities in Nagamangla in the Mandya district of India’s Karnataka State on 11 September.

The incident occurred on the evening of 11 September during a Hindu festival of the deity Lord Ganesh after the procession passed in front of a mosque and an argument broke out between two groups who began to throw stones at each other. Though Nagamangla police arrived within less than an hour, in that time the situation escalated to the point that at least six shops and 13 small stalls were set on fire. CCTV footage also shows several of those involved stealing motorcycles from a showroom and setting them on fire.

Six fire trucks and approximately 50 firefighters were also deployed and carried out operations until 7am the following day.

A First Information Report (FIR), which is required for the police to open an investigation, was subsequently filed against at least 200 people and 54 people have been arrested so far. The police also imposed Section 144 of the Indian Penal Code, banning the gathering of more than four people, until 14 September.

It remains unclear who initiated the violence. The district administration has formed a high-level committee to investigate the clashes and determine whether they were premeditated. The administration also held a peace meeting on 14 September with representatives of both Hindu and Muslim communities, urging them to maintain peace.

CSW’s Founder President Mervyn Thomas said: ‘It is concerning that an occasion for the public expression of faith turned into an outbreak of communal violence. This has become far too common in recent years. We urge the police in Nagamangla to ensure that the perpetrators of such violence are prosecuted and held accountable for their actions, and call on the government of India to eliminate the culture of impunity that often surrounds such incidents.’