A glimpse into religious fundamentalism...
2002 - Godhra train burning, where a Muslim mob kills 59 Hindu pilgrims returning from Ayodhya
The train was returning hundreds of Hindu activists from a pilgrimage to the disputed holy site of Ayodhya in the northern Indian state of Uttar Pradesh, which is claimed by both Muslims and Hindus.
The dispute over Ayodhya had been ongoing for several years. In 1992 the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP), or World Hindu Council, organised a demonstration which resulted in the destruction of a 500-year-old Moghul mosque at Ayodhya.
The Hindus believe the mosque occupied the same spot where their god Ram was born. The destruction of the mosque sparked the most widespread rioting India has seen since partition, and resulted in the deaths of more than 3,000 people.
More than 14,000 Hindus had already gathered at Ayodhya to plan the construction of a temple, and set a deadline of 15 March for work to begin. According to the head of police in Godhra, Raju Bhargava, it appeared that the train fire was started by a gang of Muslims who were angered by pro-Hindu chanting on the train.
The VHP called for a state-wide strike to protest against the attack and the more militant members vowed to continue with the temple's construction.
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