1963 Hazratbal Shrine theft

On 27 December 1963, Moi-e-Muqqadas, a relic believed by many to be a strand from the beard of the Prophet Muhammad, went missing the from the Hazratbal Shrine in Jammu and Kashmir, leading to widespread protests across the Indian subcontinent.

In the late 17th century, the Mughal emperor Aurangzeb imprisoned Nooruddin and seized the relic, moving it to the Sufi tomb in Ajmer.

[2] The next day, the Chief Minister of the state, Khwaja Shams-ud-Din, reached the shrine and announced an award of ₹100,000 for providing information regarding the theft.

[3] On 4 January 1964, the relic was recovered, and the Sadr-i-Riyasat Karan Singh organised prayers at a Hindu temple to help dispel communal tension.

Post identification, a public deedar ("viewing") of the Holy relic was organized on 6 February coinciding with the anniversary of martyrdom of the fourth Caliph of Islam, Ali bin Abu Talib.

[10] The stories of atrocities told by these refugees caused violence and rioting against Muslims in Calcutta in the Indian state of West Bengal.