Homegrown Islamic Terrorism: a Case Study of India
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University of Calgary PRISM: University of Calgary's Digital Repository Graduate Studies The Vault: Electronic Theses and Dissertations 2017 Homegrown Islamic Terrorism: A Case Study of India Panwar, Nidhi Panwar, N. (2017). Homegrown Islamic Terrorism: A Case Study of India (Unpublished master's thesis). University of Calgary, Calgary, AB. doi:10.11575/PRISM/26377 http://hdl.handle.net/11023/4017 master thesis University of Calgary graduate students retain copyright ownership and moral rights for their thesis. You may use this material in any way that is permitted by the Copyright Act or through licensing that has been assigned to the document. For uses that are not allowable under copyright legislation or licensing, you are required to seek permission. Downloaded from PRISM: https://prism.ucalgary.ca UNIVERSITY OF CALGARY Homegrown Islamic Terrorism: A Case Study of India by Nidhi Panwar A THESIS SUBMITTED TO THE FACULTY OF GRADUATE STUDIES IN PARTIAL FULFILMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE DEGREE OF MASTER OF ARTS GRADUATE PROGRAM IN POLITICAL SCIENCE CALGARY, ALBERTA AUGUST, 2017 © Nidhi Panwar 2017 Abstract This study investigates explanations behind the rise of Homegrown Islamic Terrorism (HIT) in India. It questions the externalizing discourse of the security literature and locates reasons for HIT in domestic political events, guided by a Critical Terrorism Studies approach. To explore the emergence of HIT, this study focuses on a parallel trend in Indian politics- the rise of right-wing Hindu nationalism or the Hindutva movement and its targeting of the Muslim minority. The research question guiding this study is: How can the emergence of homegrown Islamic terrorism in India be explained as a consequence of political Hindutva? Using the methodology of process-tracing, this study establishes a positive relationship between Hindutva and HIT, operationalized through a mechanism of communal politics and Hindu-Muslim riots. Keywords: Homegrown Islamic Terrorism; Case Study; Hindutva; Communalism; Hindu Muslim Riots; Critical Terrorism Studies ii Preface This thesis is original, unpublished, independent work by the author, N. Panwar. The interviews reported in Chapters 1-4 were covered by Ethics Certificate number REB16-1481, issued by the University of Calgary Conjoint Faculties Research Ethics Board for the project “Communalism and Homegrown Terrorism in India” on March 7, 2016. iii Acknowledgements I am grateful to several individuals and organizations whose support has been crucial in the completion of this project over the last two years. My supervisor, Dr. Gavin Cameron, has been an invaluable resource in providing prompt and thorough feedback relating to all academic matters. I am also thankful to other faculty members, namely, Dr. Regina Cochrane, Dr. Maureen Hiebert, Dr. Robert Huebert, Dr. Joshua Goldstein and Dr. Jim Keeley who took the time to enquire about my research interests and allowed me to integrate my thesis topic with course assignments. A special thanks to Judi Powell and Ella Wensel for critical reminders before deadlines and help with all administrative matters. I would also like to acknowledge the Shastri Indo-Canadian Institute and Mitacs Globalink for funding field-work related to this project. On the same note, I am grateful to Dr. Ashok Acharya at the Department of Political Science, University of Delhi and Dr. Abdul Nafey at the School of International Studies, Jawaharlal Nehru University for serving as host supervisors and instrumental contacts during my time in India. I am indebted to my family and friends who took an active interest in my studies and well-being. I enjoyed and continue to enjoy endless conversations with Dr. Mariana Moto, a colleague who I am also proud to call a friend. I am lucky to be blessed with two sets of incredibly supportive parents- my mother, for being the picture of unflinching resolve and patience; my mother-in-law, for the compassionate heart-to-hearts; my father-in-law for keeping up with my writing updates and; my father, Dr. Brijender Panwar for reading my chapters and suggesting valuable improvements. Finally, I owe a special thanks to my partner, Dr. Inderjeet Sahota, who has been a source of constant encouragement and support, always ready to celebrate every small milestone or achievement. iv Table of Contents Abstract .............................................................................................................................. ii Preface ............................................................................................................................... iii Acknowledgements .......................................................................................................... iv Table of Contents ...............................................................................................................v List of Figures and Illustrations .................................................................................... vii List of Acronyms ............................................................................................................ viii Chapter 1: Introduction ....................................................................................................2 1.1 Terrorism in India ......................................................................................................5 North-East ...................................................................................................................5 Punjab .........................................................................................................................7 Kashmir ......................................................................................................................8 The Naxalite Movement .............................................................................................9 Pakistan-sponsored Islamic Terrorism .....................................................................10 1.2 Hindutva ...................................................................................................................11 1.3 Homegrown Islamic Terrorism (HIT) .....................................................................13 The Tanzim Islahul Muslimeen ................................................................................14 The Asif Reza Commando Brigade ..........................................................................15 The Student Islamic Movement of India ..................................................................16 The Indian Mujahideen .............................................................................................19 Areas of Operations ...........................................................................................19 Ideology .............................................................................................................20 1.4 Literature Review ....................................................................................................21 The Conventional View and the Expert Community ...............................................22 Government Assessments .........................................................................................23 1.5 Theoretical Approach ..............................................................................................28 1.6 Methodological Approach .......................................................................................31 Chapter 2: Background and Context .............................................................................36 2.1 Communalism: Identity Construction ......................................................................38 2.2 Communalism: Identity Mobilization ......................................................................42 2.3 Identity Assertion: Hindu-Muslim Riots .................................................................46 2.4 Decline of Muslim minority ....................................................................................51 2.5 “Islamic” in Islamic Terrorism ................................................................................54 Diversity of Islam: Early Islamic Schools of Thought and the Caste-System .........55 2.6 Conclusion ...............................................................................................................59 Chapter 3: Tracing the Process from Hindutva to HIT................................................61 Why the CPOs Matter? ..................................................................................................62 Process-Tracing from Hindutva to HIT .........................................................................68 3.1 1984 Bhiwandi-Bombay Riots ...........................................................................69 3.2 Formation of the Tanzim Islahul Muslimeen (TIM) ..........................................72 3.3 Ramjanmabhoomi Movement and the Babri Mosque Demolition .....................75 v 3.4 Bombay Riots (1992-1993) and Bombay Bombings (1993) ..............................81 3.5 SIMI's Radicalization .........................................................................................83 3.6 Gujarat Pogroms .................................................................................................87 3.7 Formation of the IM ...........................................................................................91 Conclusion .....................................................................................................................95