'India train fire 'not mob attack''

The outcome of an Indian government inquiry has revealed that the train fire in which 59 Hindus died in 2002 was started from inside the train. At first it was reported that a group of angry Muslims had firebombed the train, and a vengeful wave of violence targeting Muslims swept across the Gujarat region of India leaving about a thousand people dead. The group on the train were coming from a visit to the site where a Hindu mob had stormed a mosque and tore it down in 1992, so tensions were already high. In the ensuing violence, it was reported that the nationalist government authorities encouraged the attacks. The region is still traumatised by the tragic period, and lessons must be learnt.