According to official reports, the incident took place in Nagpur’s Mahal area on Monday evening, leaving four people injured.
Controversy over Aurangzeb’s tomb… How Nagpur erupted into flames: Top 5 points
Tensions escalated in central Nagpur on Monday when stones were pelted at police officers after rumours spread that the Quran had been desecrated during a protest by a right-wing group demanding the removal of Aurangzeb’s tomb. According to official reports, the incident took place in Nagpur’s Mahal area on Monday evening, leaving four people injured.
1. Why did violence happen in Nagpur?
The real reason behind the Nagpur violence were rumours. A protest was organised by a right-wing group demanding the removal of Mughal emperor Aurangzeb’s tomb in Sambhaji Nagar. During this protest, a rumour spread that the Quran would be burnt and a protest was organised by groups like Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) and Bajrang Dal, who allegedly burnt a cloth bearing ‘Kalma’ who were demanding the removal of Aurangzeb’s tomb.
2. Section 144 imposed in Nagpur Mahal
Following the violence, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis ordered the police commissioner to take strict action. Following which police commissioner Ravindra Singal said that Section 144 has been imposed in the area. This law gives the government the power to prevent people from gathering at a place.
3. CM Fadnavis gave orders to police
Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has asked the Police Commissioner to take strict action regarding the violence in Nagpur. In a statement issued late night after the violence, Fadnavis said that the way the situation became tense in the Mahal area of Nagpur is highly condemnable. “Some people also pelted stones at the police. This is wrong. I am monitoring the situation. I have told the Police Commissioner to take whatever strict action is needed to maintain law and order. If someone riots or pelts stones at the police or creates tension in the society, strict action should be taken against all such people,” he said.
A charred vehicle after clashes broke out in Chitnis park area following the VHP-Bajrang Dal protest, in Nagpur
4. Two clashes break out
According to Nagpur Police Commissioner Dr. Ravinder Singhal some residents of Old Hislop College area near Chitnis Park in Mahal claimed a mob entered their locality around 7.30 pm and started throwing stones at their homes and vandalised several cars parked in the lanes. Police have arrested 15 persons during combing operations in various localities in Mahal area.
5. Eyewitnesses count
According to eyewitnesses, violence erupted in central Nagpur at around 7.30 pm om Monday with stones hurled at police amid rumours that the holy book of a community was burnt during an agitation by a right-wing outfit for the removal of Aurangzeb’s tomb, leaving six persons and three policemen injured. Another clash broke out in Hansapuri area near Old Bhandara Road between 10.30 pm and 11.30 pm. An unruly mob burnt several vehicles, vandalised houses and a clinic in the area, as per eyewitnesses.
