Communal riots returned to the Capital after nearly three decades, with Trilokpuri in East Delhi witnessing violent clashes between two communities. The area remained under curfew-like situation for almost a fortnight.
Besides, a number of flare-ups reported from different parts of the city kept the communal pot simmering in 2014.
Just before Diwali, Muslim residents of Trilokpuri complained against a “mata ki chowki” put up by the Hindus in the area. They wanted the “chowki” removed after Navratri. That it was placed just opposite a mosque also added to the problem. The issue escalated into a major communal clash on the night of Diwali.
The clash that started following a rumour took a violent turn leading to arson and rioting for two days. While the police was able to control the situation within two days, the area remained under curfew and strict vigilance for over a fortnight. The situation was eased after the “chowki” was removed following an elaborate jagran .
The tension soon spread to other parts of the Capital. Within a week of the Trilokpuri curfew being lifted, there were reports of communal tension in Outer Delhi’s Bawana. A Hindu mahapanchayat was held there to oppose a Muharram procession. Nearly a month before Christmas, the St. Sebastian’s Church in East Delhi’s Dilshad Garden was mysteriously gutted in a fire. While parishioners alleged it was arson, the actual reason behind the incident is still unknown. Incidents of minor attacks on churches in Dwarka, Okhla and Ghaziabad were also reported.
