On Monday, a contingent of Bajrang Dal and Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP) members convened at Chitnis Park Chowk in the Mahal district of Nagpur to stage a protest advocating for the demolition of the 17th-century tomb of Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb, mirroring similar actions taken in various major cities and towns throughout Maharashtra.
However, the demonstration in Nagpur quickly escalated. The protesters set fire to a ‘chadar’ (holy cloth) inscribed with verses from the Quran, which incited outrage within the Muslim community. This act of burning the ‘chadar’ led to violent confrontations in areas such as Ganeshpeth, Bhagalpur, and Hansapuri, among others in Nagpur. The ensuing violence resulted in injuries to 33 police officers and five civilians, with one civilian requiring admission to the intensive care unit.
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The Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) has refuted allegations of burning the chadar; however, the Maharashtra Police have verified the incident after reviewing video evidence. Shakib ur Rehman, a leader of the All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) in Nagpur, stated, “No one from the [Muslim] community objects to the burning of Aurangzeb’s effigy. It is up to the government to decide the fate of the tomb. However, why burn the chadar that bears verses from the Quran?”
Maharashtra Chief Minister and Home Minister Devendra Fadnavis, who represents Nagpur, described the clashes in the assembly on Tuesday as a “pre-planned conspiracy” and a “targeted assault on specific residences.” He noted, “On Monday evening, it appeared that certain individuals had deliberately orchestrated attacks, as a truckload of stones and a significant quantity of weapons were discovered. Vehicles were set ablaze, and, resembling a premeditated scheme, specific houses and shops were attacked.” Fadnavis also reported that three Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) officers sustained injuries, one of whom was severely hurt due to an axe assault.
We will take decisive measures against those who orchestrated this conspiracy. No individual has the right to take the law into their own hands. I will ensure that anyone who assaulted the police will face consequences. Attacking law enforcement is unacceptable, he stated.
To date, five First Information Reports (FIRs) have been filed—three at the Ganeshpeth police station and two at the tehsil police station in Nagpur. The police have apprehended 50 individuals as suspects related to the violence that occurred in the Mahal area, where the RSS headquarters is located. According to law enforcement, the situation is currently stable; however, a curfew has been imposed across the jurisdictions of 11 police stations: Mahal, Kotwali, Ganeshpeth, Pachpaoli, Kapil Nagar, Imamwadi, Yashodhara Nagar, Tahsil, Lakadganj, Nandanwan, Shantinagar, and Sakkardara.
(This story is published from a syndicated feed)
