Non-tolerance at peak in Gujarat, 232 communal clashes reported in a year

Gujarat’s long-standing image of peace and prosperity has been shaken, with 232 communal clashes reported in a single year in 2023. The unrest spans religious, caste, and resource-based disputes, revealing growing tensions across the state, according to the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) report on law and order.

According to the NCRB report, in 2023, Gujarat recorded a total of 232 clashes, of which 17 were communal riots based on religious issues.

Police records also note 21 incidents of clashes between two groups. There were three cases where confrontations took place over water issues, and disputes related to land and agriculture were also reported in seven incidents. 

In towns and villages, issues related to relationships (interpersonal conflicts over marriages or love) triggered confrontations in 72 cases. 20 incidents involved clashes between communities or castes due to internal enmity.

The report mentions two incidents where caste-based conflicts escalated into clashes, and in five cases, disputes over money and property led to communal tensions.

Number of clashes along with reasons