Bhiwandi Riots 1970: How a Festive Procession Turned into a Dance of Death

• In May 1970, Bhiwandi, Maharashtra, witnessed one of history's most horrific communal riots during a Shiv Jayanti procession.
• A procession of approximately 10,000 people was deliberately routed through a sensitive area, escalating tensions near a mosque.
• Stone-pelting incidents and widespread rumors ignited a storm of violence, leading to homes and shops being burned and families displaced.
• Over 160 people officially died, thousands of homes and shops were destroyed, and the violence continued for several days, spreading across Maharashtra.
• The riots highlighted the dangers of communal tension, controversial procession routes, and administrative negligence, leading to an inquiry commission and stricter rules for processions.