Heavy tensions occurred in Nagpur, Maharashtra on Monday night when violent clashes broke out between Muslim mobs and Hindu groups demanding to remove Aurangzeb’s tomb in Sambhaji Nagar.
A curfew has been enforced in many parts of Nagpur under Section 163 of the Bhartiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS) due to the increasing tensions.
The curfew applies to the jurisdiction of police stations in Kotwali, Ganeshpeth, Tehsil, Lakadganj, Pachpaoli, Shantinagar, Sakkardara, Nandanvan, Imamwada, Yashodharanagar, and Kapilnagar.
Rumours of the desecration of a holy book lead to a demonstration in Nagpur by right-wing groups seeking the removal of the tomb of Aurangzeb appear to have sparked the violence.
Stones were pelted at the residents in Chitnis Park and Mahal area. Nearly 30 police personnel have been injured in the violence and Police said over 60 rioters had been arrested.
BJP MLA from Nagpur Central, Pravin Datke, claimed the violence was pre-planned and all CCTV cameras were damaged.
In the violence, at least 15 police officials and 5 civilians were injured as mobs pelted stones, vandalised public property, and torched vehicles.
Section 144 was imposed in the violence-hit region as a measure to bring situation under control. Later the violence spread to Kotwali and Ganeshpeth. Nearly 1,000 people were involved in large-scale stone-pelting, vandalism, and arson, damaging vehicles and homes.
How The Incident Started
Devotees organised a Shiv Jayanti program between 7-9 am in front of the statue of Maratha icon Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj in the Mahal area.
Around 40-50 workers of Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) and Bajrang Dal held a demonstration demanding the removal of Aurangzeb’s tomb. The demonstrators covered an effigy of the Mughal emperor with a sheet and set it on fire.
Several videos got viral on social media following the rumours of a holy book being desecrated.Several youths from the Muslim community started gathering in the area between 5 PM and 7 PM and shouted slogans.
The violence escalated rapidly around 7.30 PM. Cars and bikes were set on fire and stones were thrown at several houses in the area. A crane was also set afire. Initially the police resorted to baton charges, but when the situation escalated, they fired tear gas shells.
Over 25 rioters were taken into custody initially. Around 5-6 civilians sustained injuries. The Maharashtra Police’s cyber wing has started a probe into more than 100 social media accounts that allegedly fanned the flames.
Authorities have requested to the public not to heed to rumours in view of old videos being circulated online.
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