The Godhra train burning was an incident that occurred on 27 February 2002 in which 59 people were killed in a fire in a train near the Godhra railway station in the Indian state of Gujarat. Most of the people killed were Hindu pilgrims and activists returning from the holy city of Ayodhya. Victims included many women and children. Investigations and court rulings on the case later established that the fire was caused by arson by radical Islamist mobs and 31 people were convicted for the crime.
This incident triggered communal Hindu-Muslim riots in Gujarat, resulting in deaths of more than 1000 people as well as widespread loss of property and homelessness.
Read more about Godhra Train Burning: Riot History, Attack, Role of Local Government and Police, Inquiries, Trial Court Verdict and Reactions
Famous quotes containing the words train and/or burning:
“The train rounds, bending to a scream,
Taking the final level for the dive
Under the river—”
—Hart Crane (1899–1932)
“There are worse crimes than burning books. One of them is not reading them.”
—Joseph Brodsky (b. 1940)