2016 Kaliachak riots

The 2016 Kaliachak riots were a series of communal riots that occurred in Kaliachak, a town in the Malda district of West Bengal, India, on January 3, 2016. The unrest erupted following the alleged derogatory remarks made about the Prophet Muhammad by a local BJP leader, which incited anger among the Muslim community. Subsequent protests escalated into violent clashes between different groups, resulting in widespread vandalism and the destruction of property, including the torching of police vehicles. The state government deployed additional security forces to restore order, leading to a curfew being imposed in the affected areas. The riots raised concerns regarding communal harmony in the region and highlighted tensions between different religious communities in India.