massacre massacre took place february india riots muslims killed mob approximately people organised militant wing supported power massacre occurred strike protest called day train burning post rioting lasted hours mob looted stabbed sexually assaulted gang raped burnt people individually groups conflict imposed state army troops called contain violence communal violence deemed largest single case mass murder riots accounted greatest number deaths single event survivors faced socio economic problems left homeless orphaned injured number destroyed schools adversely affected cancelled exams closed entirely surviving victims given shelter relief camps provided state central government efforts begun restore destroyed properties state government formed state commission inquiry citizens forum recommendations suggest reforms mainstream media criticised government handling riots remarked number reports exaggerated headlines stories pictures published resulting anti muslim prejudice hindu readership allegations state police state government chief minister citing government authorities involved police personnel played role massacre number reported police officers favouring mob allegedly injuring killing muslims damaging public private property allegations proved false government police cleared wrongdoing initial report case filed police accusing people deemed unreliable formed investigate case team submitted report accused people wrongdoing charged august convicted people acquitted insufficient evidence convicted cabinet minister women child development sentenced years imprisonment received life sentence background february train burning incident initiated series riots hindu pilgrims returning train attacked train stopped station set fire causing death including women children activists following attack false rumours spread senior hindu leader muslims kidnapped hindu girls incident attacks muslims began evening number incidents muslims attacked killed reported cities incident attacks muslim community occurred hindu began throwing stones later burnt muslim housing complex initial violence believed instigated rumours muslims kidnapping hindu girls violence spread largely rural districts day massacre time riots suburb kilometre constitute municipality located largest city daily wage earning muslim inhabitants immigrants evening february declared statewide strike response train burning incident starting february day strike mob approximately people allegedly led attacked attempted burn entire muslim community rioting began destroyed exploding petroleum gas cylinders cases looting stabbing sexual assaults including public gang victims burnt reported people burnt alive individually groups chasing huge pits setting fire cylinders burnt bodies thrown dry women girls sexually assaulted raped killed burning stabbing supplied weapons crowd raped killed women cylinders destroy number buildings residential working areas massacre lasted hours finally imposed towns cities homes muslims burnt hindu homes remained undamaged riots ended estimated people killed violence rioting bodies recovered people reported missing later declared dead people found injured dead muslims comprised women children men incident considered post violent incidents largest single case mass murders claimed highest number lives events riots aftermath evening february imposed towns cities state attempt curb violence days later hit approximately towns villages state districts affected post violence particularly severe districts violence heavily february march slowed briefly restarted march continued mid june northern central north eastern tribal belt closer worst affected remained relatively peaceful army troops flown evening march restore order intelligence officials alleged state government deliberately delayed deployment police chief appointed security adviser government transferred senior police officers taken steps contain investigate violent attacks administrative positions according official estimate people killed riots muslims people reported missing injured women widowed children orphaned people missing riots declared dead seven years total deaths rose unofficial estimates death toll closer muslims forming majority police records temples churches damaged riots opposition parties coalition partners led central government demanded dismissal chief minister failing contain violence calling removal minister july asked governor dissolve state assembly fresh elections ruled early elections citing prevailing law order situation decision union government unsuccessfully appealed supreme_court elections held december returned power rehabilitation victims residents left homeless massacre given shelter relief camps constructed state government march state government formed party committee consisting member chaired provide relief rehabilitation victims riots proposed close camps end march later decided close pressure opposition party party committee reached consensus implement rehabilitation measures suggested non governmental organisations aid people build houses effects children education number children killed injured orphaned violence organisations citizens initiative reported violence resulted disturbance children studies lack students unable examinations cancelled chances disruption schools state postpone cancel exams reported schools held examinations police protection reported students forced leave studies lack funds earn lost income earning members families restoration number including year old heritage destroyed rioting petition filed advocate behalf asking court direct state restore religious destroyed violence response petition government stated secular state aid community build february high_court directed state government rebuild said state constitutional responsibility restore matter went supreme_court refused stay order response government state government stated massacre spontaneous reaction train state government ruling party march talking violence said tried control riots resulting natural justified anger people referring massacre said million people shown remarkable restraint grave state government appointed state commission inquiry investigate case recommendations committee chaired retired judge formation committee raised concerns delays implementing recommendations similar reports reforms dave commissions pending implementation respectively government presented report india role stating findings massacre state government report mention involvement hindu activists despite statements numerous report included according counted total destroyed violence role played media television newspaper reports particularly local language media carried graphic times images accounts train fire massacre major communal violence advent satellite television india television news channels identified community involved violence breaking long standing practice setting precedent critical reporting government handling situation helped bring indian government intervention controlling violence government banned television news channels critical response cnn local stations blocked rejected charge graphic news coverage aggravated situation saying coverage exposed riots attitude state helping propel action team language newspapers pro distorted provocative reporting train fire extensively covered subsequent violence presentation union budget overtook said media exaggerated covering extent violence criticised media provoking violence naming religion victims newspapers particularly reported organisations published headlines stories pictures headline february read avenge blood blood massacre muslims returned published headline pilgrims return deadly conspiracy caused terror returning muslim community escorted army officials homes given protection avoid attacks report stated major effect media long period feed prevalent anti muslim hindu readership provoke twisting news passes expose truth report political weekly released hidden camera footage members admitting role riots report criticised politically motivated newspapers said revelations simply reinforced common knowledge statements cast doubt sting operation said visited day massacre thank official record shows visit government blocked cable news channels broadcasting expose action criticised attacks women number women girls raped sexually assaulted killed incident reports presented citizen initiative human rights watch stated women killed massacre sexually assaulted deaths surviving women reported assaulted according human rights watch women girls brutally raped killed took place public victims killed bodies burnt women surviving relief camp suffered forms sexual violence including rape gang rape mass rape stripping objects bodies citizens initiative report stated majority rape victims burnt alive evidence state police crimes women effort protect women women police deployed state police continuing women survivors continue denied right file existing institutional mechanism women seek justice according human rights watch pregnant women cut open removed thrown fire incident came light richard alias caught camera sting operation talking belly pregnant removing killing sword alleged involvement police massacre alleged police helped mob muslim community day massacre evidence included complaints filed victims family members state police officials fired bullets helped mob resulting killings alleged police guided mob residents hiding places according human rights watch police houses people burnt day violence respond telephone calls massacre ended numerous saw police aiming tear gas shells firing muslim youths tried defend allegations police burnt houses looted violence extensive use petroleum gas reported cited evidence involvement officials easy access report based eyewitness statements submitted citizens initiative national human rights commission india states force specially trained emergency police seen chasing victims helping situation according human rights watch victims said able handle crowd police joined difficult police sided fired muslim residents state government denied allegations said police fired contain violence added people quell violence defended role played officials said stop violence allegations state government human rights watch indian human rights groups alleged government authorities police helped mob day violence human rights watch found evidence state government helped mob attacks action police officials delayed effective insider alleged human rights watch state government involved riots stating admit police instructions administration act firmly new_york_times reported witnesses dismayed lack intervention local police watched events taking place took action attacks muslims property leader main organisers massacre stated called state home minister end day told happened said advised leave state hiding stated officer statement promoted legislator described violence judge later appointed minister women child welfare government cell phone records showed touch chief minister office home minister police officials chief minister office touch state government denied involvement riots april cleared government riot cases stating law order review meetings held things control situation army called time contain communal violence busy steps control situation establishment relief camps riot victims efforts restore peace filed supreme_court basis report testimony suspended officer ordered police officers active actions riots said night february said allowed carry violence muslims report filed supreme_court lawyer alleged gave instructions police officers slow said prosecuted sections indian code promoting different groups riots including incident criticised report relying heavily testimony according sit unreliable witness remained silent years report rejected team according sit case chief minister connection communal riots mentioned investigations initial investigation investigations began victims reported didn cooperate declined lodge information report people later police filed complaints presented report police accused arrested persons case investigation criticised special court considered unreliable investigator recording statements special investigation team report directed case transferred police investigation committee appointed court police riot cases team led director case sixth riots case assigned investigation taking account findings telephone records activists major leaders included report time findings added names people arrested police trial began accused died trial started accused died final report covered people report said leaders led violence mob telephone records revealed calls chief minister office day massacre telephone located places violence occurred contacted numerous police officials especially police inspector charge time massacre logs revealed received calls police officers reasons unknown trial court examined witnesses including victims doctors police personnel government officials forensic experts special public case prosecuted judgement verdict case handed august judge special trial court convicted sitting minister women child development politician indian code section criminal conspiracy murder convicted people murder criminal conspiracy criminal charges acquitted accused giving benefit doubt lack evidence woman minister convicted riot case richard alias convicted rape murder prosecution requested death penalty sentencing took place august given year prison term received sentences years indian code section voluntarily causing hurt dangerous weapons means second years section murder sentences set run making total years received life imprisonment rest convicted sentenced minimum years minimum years prison included convicted alias sentencing deferred comments initial investigation said victim politics judge described violence months trials ended court said statement received help state government efforts avoid appearing list accused statement said favoured investigating agencies took care cost duty investigating officer interest victims taken involvement come books fact comes way believe victim politics verdict special court criticised initial investigation police riots deliberately conducting poor investigations verdict said statements witnesses recorded police unreliable investigator recording statements special court judge criticised actions investigation said force totally inactive fronts aspect court added doubt task investigate kind crimes believed senior investigating officers having experience know priorities kind investigation element responses verdict residents city including victims appreciated judgement celebrated welcomed verdict statement role riots said proved ministers officials involved riots happened guidance minister riots support chief minister president said twitter justice delayed denied thousands bars awaiting law able touch response sentencing minister cabinet refused said government played role riots hanged trying save lives people want bad mouth political reasons answer spokesman cabinet government said involved responsible actions practising minister time massacre individual action cumulative responsibility cabinet citation
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