- Tuesday, March 18, 2025
The chief minister said that 33 policemen, including three deputy commissioners, were injured in the violence
By: India Weekly
MAHARASHTRA chief minister Devendra Fadnavis on Tuesday (18) said the violence in Nagpur appears to be a premeditated conspiracy and the mob had targeted specific houses and establishments.
Violence erupted on Monday (17) evening, with stones hurled at police amid rumours that the holy book of a community was burnt during an agitation by a right-wing body demanding the removal of Mughal emperor Aurangzeb’s tomb (located in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar district).
The chief minister, who also holds the home portfolio, also acknowledged that the recent blockbuster movie “Chhaava” had fuelled public anger against Aurangzeb, but urged everyone to ensure peace in Maharashtra.
Fadnavis said the movie, based on the life of Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj, brought before the people the true history of the Maratha king.
Chhatrapati Sambhaji, son of Maratha Empire founder Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, was tortured and killed by Mughal emperor Aurangzeb.
“After that (the movie), people’s emotions have been reignited. The anger against Aurangzeb is being exhibited in a big way,” he said.
Fadnavis said in the assembly that 33 policemen, including three deputy commissioners, were injured in the violence, and one of the senior officials was attacked with an axe on Monday (17) night.
The chief minister warned that those who attacked police personnel will not be spared.
Deputy chief minister Eknath Shinde claimed that there was a conspiracy to target a specific community. He described the violence as “unfortunate” and appealed for calm.
Nagpur guardian minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule said social media was used to vitiate the atmosphere, and appealed to the opposition not to politicise the matter.
Bawankule, who conducted a review meeting with the police commissioner and district collector, also appealed to members of all the communities to maintain harmony.
“Social media was used to vitiate the atmosphere and there was no failure on part of the home department, as police stood as a shield between the Hindu and Muslim communities (during the violence), wherein several policemen also got injured,” he said.
The situation is a little tense, but there is peace in the city with adequate police force deployed, Bawankule said.
50 rounded up
More than 50 people have been taken into custody and five FIRs registered in connection with the violence in Nagpur and curfew has been imposed in several parts the city, police commissioner Ravinder Singal said on Tuesday (18).
Singal told reporters, “The police have taken more than 50 people into custody and registered five FIRs at various police stations in connection with the violence.”
Residents recall horror
Some residents of Old Hislop College area near Chitnis Park in Mahal told PTI that a mob entered their locality around 7.30 pm and started throwing stones at their homes and vandalised several cars parked in the lanes.
Four cars were vandalised, with one badly burnt.
Those part of the mob threw stones at the homes and burnt cars, broke waters coolers installed at the houses and windows before fleeing, some residents said.
People living in the area later arranged for water and doused flames of the burning vehicles, a resident said.
The locals demanded action against those responsible for the violence.
A resident of the Hansapuri area, Sharad Gupta (50) whose four two-wheelers, parked in front of his home, were burnt said the mob came between 10.30 pm and 11.30 pm and threw stones and torched the vehicles.
Gupta, who was injured in the attack, said the mob also vandalised a neighbour’s shop. The police arrived an hour later, he added.
Angry residents called for immediate police action against the mob.
A resident of the Hansapuri area told PTI that the mob came to their home at around 10.30 pm and burnt their vehicles parked outside the house.
A fire also broke out as they torched vehicles and properties.
“We doused the fire by putting water from the first floor of our house before the fire brigade came,” she said.
Another resident, Vansh Kawle, said members of the mob, who had covered their faces, broke the CCTV camera installed in the area. They also tried to break into their homes.
Another local, who has a tea stall in front of a clinic, said the mob entered the medical facility, broke all the tables and damaged medicines. The person’s tea stall was also vandalised.
Government-sponsored riot: Jarange
Maratha quota activist Manoj Jarange on Tuesday (18) claimed that violence in Nagpur was “sponsored” by the Mahayuti government and blamed Fadnavis for the unrest.
They (government) are giving protection to Mughal emperor Aurangzeb’s grave (located in Chhatrapati Samabhajinagar district), and at the same time there is a demand (from right-wing outfits) for its removal, Jarange said, adding that people should see through it.
“This riot has been sponsored by government and Devendra Fadnavis,” Jarange alleged while talking to reporters at Ellora in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar.
“They now don’t see those who insulted Shivaji Maharaj,” he said, in a veiled reference to actor Rahul Solapurkar and a Nagpur resident who have been accused of insulting the Maratha king.
The activist sought to know what happens to their Hindutva in such matters.
“Doing such things when the local body elections are around is not good,” Jarange said.
“If they want to remove the Aurangzeb’s grave, they are in power at the Centre and in the state. If the Congress made a mistake of protecting the structure earlier, now the rulers have a chance to correct it. This (violence) is just being done to make the poor people fight amongst themselves. The poor people should remain alert,” he said.
If they want to remove the grave, they can do it “in a minute”, the activist said.
“But the grave is given police protection by the state at the same time. People have the brain to understand this. The local governing body elections are around the corner. They (ruling parties) want to win the elections. They cannot solve issues plaguing the people, farmers and women,” he claimed. (PTI)
