By Tarique Anwar, TwoCircles.net
Bhagalpur: The communal violence that broke out in and around Bhagalpur in October of 1989 continued for about two months and nearly 1,070 lives lost. Here a glimpse of Bhagalpur riot 1989. It was sparked off by processions carrying bricks for building the Ram temple in Ayodhya during BJP's movement against the Babri Masjid.
According to official figures 1,070 people were killed & 524 injured. 116 people were killed in Logain village alone. 15 out of 21 blocks of Bhagalpur were affected by the riots.
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 mazaars (shrines) were destroyed. 142 FIRs were recorded in various police stations. 1,283 persons were accused; 52 cases dismissed and accused acquitted.
In all, 24 people, including an ASI, were named as accused in the Logain carnage; six died during the trial period and four absconded.
A two-member inquiry commission comprising Ram Chandra Prasad Sinha and Shamsul Hasan, both retired judges of Patna High Court, submitted its report in June 1995.
The committee held 14 officers guilty, but no action was taken.