Tens of thousands were displaced from their homes because of the violence . According to '' New York Times '' reporter Celia Williams Dugger , witnesses were dismayed by the lack of intervention from local police , who often watched the events taking place and took no action against the attacks on Muslims and their property . Sangh leaders as well as the Gujarat government maintain that the violence was rioting or inter-communal clashes — spontaneous and uncontrollable reaction to the Godhra train burning
Godhra train burning
Godhra train burning
Religious violence in India