Thread by @MujtabaAasif

This day, October 24 marks the anniversary of the Bhagalpur massacre of 1989. Around 1000 people, mostly Muslims were butchered in the pogrom. A thread-
#BhagalpurMassacre1989 #BhagalpurRiots #bhagalpurmassacre

The cause of the riot was radicalisation of Hindus masses for Ram Janmabhumi movement by the VHP while the trigger point was a provocative procession that forcefully passed through Fatehpur village, a muslim majority locality+

Like any other anti Muslim riots that happened recently, the Bhagalpur pogrom had 3 similar distinct features.
1) False propaganda- one rumor stated that nearly 200 Hindu university students had been killed by the Muslims, while another rumor stated that 31 Hindu boys+

had been murdered with their bodies dumped in a well at the Sanskrit College. Later it was found that there were 12 bodies, all from the family of Mohammad Javed, a Muslim +

2) Provocative slogans- Some members of the procession passing through Muslim areas shouted slogans such as “Hindi, Hindu, Hindustan, Mullah Bhago Pakistan” (India is for Hindus, Mullahs go away to Pakistan), “Babur ki auladon, bhago Pakistan ya Kabristan” +

(Children of Babur, run away to Pakistan or to the graveyard) & Baccha baccha Ram ka, baaki sab haraam ka" (We are all children of Ram, the rest are illegitimate) +

3) Role of Police-The initial days of pogrom was carried out with total protection of the State Police. The role of the then SP , KS Dwivedi in anti Muslim riots was so open that the Chief Minister asked him to hand over charges to Ajit Datta on October 26.+

Surprisingly, The then Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi, acting on demands of the Murderous mob, overruled his transfer. On same day, In Nayabazar area, 18 muslims including 11 children were murdered in full public view. Kids were beheaded & breast of many women were chopped off +

In Chanderi village, the hindu mob pretended to save Muslims who had taken refuge in a house. When the Muslims after trusting their words came out, they were attacked. 61 Muslims including children & women were killed & their bodies were mutilated +

At the Logain village, 116 Muslims were killed by a 4000-strong mob led by the police officer Ramchander Singh. Their bodies were buried and camouflaged by the plantation of cauliflower and cabbage saplings to hide the evidence. This came to be knows as cauliflower massacre. +

According to official figures 1,070 people were killed & 524 injured. 11,500 houses in 195 villages were destroyed, displacing 48,000 people. 600 power looms and 1,700 handlooms were burnt to ashes. 68 mosques and 20 mazars were destroyed +

According to the PUDR report, 93% of the dead were Muslim. The Bhagalpur Silk industry that was primarily lead my Muslims also suffered deadly. It was also an economic devastation for the Muslims.