2023 Haryana riots

The 2023 Haryana riots, commonly referred to as the Nuh violence, were a series of clashes in northern India that originated in the district of Nuh and spread to nearby regions within Haryana. On 31 July 2023, communal violence erupted in Nuh, Haryana, between Muslims and Hindus during an annual Brajmandal Yatra pilgrimage organised by the Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP). By that evening, related incidents of communal violence were reported from Gurugram and Sohna. As of 3 August 2023, the situation had resulted in at least seven fatalities and over 200 reported injuries.

On 20 July 2023, Bajrang Dal activist and cow vigilante Monu Manesar posted a video announcing that he would participate in the Yatra, which quickly went viral. The Muslim community of Nuh was outraged, as Manesar is wanted as a suspect in the February 2023 lynching of two Muslim men. Upon hearing that Manesar would be in the procession, young men from the local Muslim community organized, meeting from 21 July to 23 July to make plans for an attack. Manesar did not ultimately attend at the request of the organizers due to security concerns. Local police believed that Manesar's absence would keep the crowd calm enough for law enforcement to prevent violence.

Violence broke out on 31 July during the annual Brajmandal Yatra pilgrimage through the Muslim-majority district of Nuh. Rioters executed an attack on the procession, pelting it with stones, bottles, and molotov cocktails. This triggered retaliatory actions from the Hindu procession participants. The Hindus taking part in the procession were forced to flee to a nearby temple, which was then besieged by rioters armed with guns, who fired upon the temple. The police believe the attack on the procession was premeditated and well-organized.

In response, the government imposed a curfew, suspended Internet services, and sent extra paramilitary troops to the region to prevent a further outbreak of violence. Retaliatory violence broke out in nearby districts. Hundreds of Muslim-owned shops and homes were bulldozed in the following days. Officials in Nuh claimed that the buildings destroyed were illegally erected or belonged to rioters, but there was no investigation or advance notice given to owners before their properties were razed. Calm and order were said to have been restored on 8 August 2023.