Nagpur/Mumbai, March 18: As various parts of Nagpur remain under curfew following communal tension over the Aurangzeb tomb controversy, it has been learnt that the unrest began in the early hours of Monday in Mahal, one of the oldest localities of the city.

The Police prevented the chaos from deepening into communal strife but as the evening set in, the ‘charged atmosphere’ in some localities resulted in wide-scale violence by the mob.

Senior-rank police officers including 3 DCPs and 1 SP were injured in stone-pelting and vandalism incidents, while more than 32 vehicles were set ablaze by the mob, which apparently got instigated over the reported desecration of ‘chadar’ with holy texts written on it.

According to the police report, the violence didn’t happen all of a sudden. The tensions simmered since morning and reached a boiling point with the onset of dusk.

Here is a detailed break-up of how the communal unrest happened.

Initial reports attributed the violence in parts of Nagpur to rumours of the desecration of a holy book, during a demonstration by Hindu outfit members demanding the removal of Mughal ruler Aurganzeb’s tomb in the Khuldabad area.

media is in possession of the police report, which narrates the chain of events and ‘triggers’ leading to communal unrest and violence.

As per the Nagpur police report, a group of locals had assembled in the Mahal area at around 11.30 a.m. to protest against the alleged sacrilege of the holy chadar, however, they were denied permission and also persuaded by the cops to return.

The gathering of the Muslim community was followed by a demonstration by VHP and Bajrang Dal members on Monday morning, who raised slogans against the Mughal ruler and called for razing of the Aurangzeb’s tomb.

The police also booked some of these protestors from the Hindu outfits under Section 227, Section 37 (1) (3) and Section 229.

The unrest that started in the morning, erupted into alarming proportions after the noon namaz, at around 1.30 p.m.

About 200-250 Muslims gathered near Shivaji Maharaj’s statue in Nagpur’s Mahal area, where police personnel were already present.

They claimed that the VHP and Bajran Dal supporters had burnt a ‘chadar’ (green cloth) with sacred verses written on it. With tempers rising on both sides, the situation could have escalated into a serious communal flare-up but the police intervened and prevented the crowd from going on rampage.

Following this, leaders from the Muslim community lodged a complaint with the police station and were given assurance by the top cop of stringent action on the ‘rogue elements’, responsible for hurting their religious beliefs.

However, the situation again turned volatile as more than 200 people, from the specific community, with their faces covered and armed with rods, hit the streets in the Hansapuri area and went on a rampage, torching vehicles and vandalizing public properties.

The mob of protesters not only raised provocative slogans but also pelted stones at shops and houses in the area.

According to police reports, more than a dozen vehicles were torched and many shops vandalized by the mob.

A communal flare-up was reported from Tehsil Agrasen Chowk, where the members of two communities engaged in slogan-shouting and stone-pelting. A person was injured in stone-pelting while many vehicles were burnt and damaged.

In the Ganesh Peth area also, hooligans and vandals run amok on the streets and pelted stones at the police personnel. Attempts were also made to set the police vehicles on fire. Police tried to disperse the crowd but they came under attack by the stone-pelters.

According to police inputs, at least one crane, 2 JCBs, 3 cars, and more than 20 motorcycles were burnt while public properties were damaged by the unruly mob.

More than 47 protesters have been taken into custody so far. Many police officials including senior officers to the rank of DCP and SP were injured in violence by the mob. At least 33 policemen are reported to have suffered injuries, with 14-15 suffering serious injuries.

The Nagpur police have also launched a massive manhunt to apprehend the stone pelters and vandals, who attacked the police and fire brigade personnel. A huge contingent of SRPF and RAF personnel remains deployed in sensitive zones to keep the situation under control and prevent any further flare-ups.

Meanwhile, the areas of Nagpur where curfew has been imposed include Kotwali, Ganeshpeth, Lakadganj, Pachpaoali, Shantinagar, Sakkardara, Nandanvan, Imamwada, Yashodhara Nagar and Kapil Nagar.

People have been asked to stay indoors and not pay heed to rumours.

New Delhi, March 18: The violence in Nagpur has drawn sharp reactions from political leaders across parties. The incident, which erupted after a protest by Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) and Bajrang Dal supporters, has sparked heated debates regarding its origins and motives behind it.

Shiv Sena(UBT) leader Priyanka Chaturvedi condemned the violence, stating, “This was a planned conspiracy, executed under a well-thought-out political strategy by those who had issues with Maharashtra. This narrative, which originated in Delhi, was brought to Maharashtra and implemented. Behind this violence, there is a clear backdrop of provocation. From CM Devendra Fadnavis to his cabinet ministers, provocative statements were made.”

She further criticised the Maharashtra government, adding, “CM Devendra Fadnavis is pushing Maharashtra into underdevelopment, creating an environment where no one will want to invest in the state. Law and order have been shattered, and you are misleading and provoking the people. It is shameful that such violence took place. Nitin Gadkari himself stated that, to date, no such incident has ever occurred in Nagpur. The so-called ‘double-engine’ government they claim is actually a ‘double disaster’ government.”

Shiv Sena leader Manisha Kayande voicing her concern, said, “I strongly condemn this serious incident. Who started it and who spread the rumours, this is very dangerous and frightening.”

Congress MP Pramod Tiwari appealed for peace, stating, “I humbly appeal to the residents there that peace, harmony, and calm must be restored at all costs and I directly blame the Bharatiya Janata Party and its associated organisations, along with the state government, for fuelling the fire that was already burning.”

BJP leaders, too, weighed in on the incident, claiming it is a conspiracy.

BJP State President Chandrashekhar Bawankule described the violence as “unprecedented”, adding, “The unfortunate incident that occurred in Nagpur has never been seen before. The way this incident took place it is a clear case of conspiracy.”

BJP MLA Sanjay Upadhyay was more direct in his comments, saying, “In Nagpur, the way Hindu vehicles were set on fire, the police were attacked, and Hindus were targeted. I stand in support of every Hindu who faced atrocities. The perpetrators and those behind the conspiracy must be exposed, and actions like bulldozer operations should be taken against them.”

According to police reports, the violence erupted after VHP and Bajrang Dal supporters gathered near Shivaji Maharaj’s statue in Mahal to protest against Aurangzeb’s tomb.

During the protest, they allegedly burned a photograph of Aurangzeb and a symbolic grave wrapped in a green cloth filled with grass.

This act reportedly led to rumours that sacred verses had been set on fire, which escalated tensions.

As tensions mounted, around 80-100 individuals became aggressive, hurling stones at police officers and setting vehicles on fire. Some reports even claimed that knives were thrown at security personnel. The police responded with lathi charge and tear gas to disperse the crowd.

Authorities have since detained around 50 individuals in connection with the violence, and a heavy police force has been deployed to maintain law and order in the area.

As investigations continue, political leaders continue to weigh in, each blaming the other for the violence that has marred the peace in Nagpur.

Mumbai, March 18: Opposition on Tuesday staged a protest at the entrance of the Assembly demanding the removal of BIP Minister Nitesh Rane from the cabinet for “spreading hatred”.

The legislators from Congress, Shiv Sena(UBT) and NCP(SP) raised slogans like “Dangal Namo, Shantata Havi (Don’t want riots, want peace)” and “Shantata Priya Maharashtra Hava, Dangal Mukt Maharashtra Hava (Want peaceful Maharashtra, riot free Maharashtra)”.

Congress Legislature Party leader Vijay Wadettiwar said, ”Nagpur is a very peaceful city, but it has been attacked by pro-ruling organisations. All this is because of a minister in the cabinet who made absurd and provocative statements. The Chief Minister should immediately remove this minister from the cabinet. Deliberate efforts are being made to spread hatred and incite conflict between the two communities and this is being done by the ruling alliance. Nagpur residents should maintain peace and ensure that no untoward incident occurs.”

He further stated, “It is an unfortunate incident that arson and stone-pelting took place in a peaceful city like Nagpur. For the past few days, a minister in the cabinet has been constantly fiddling and his statements have caused a dispute between two communities. If this minister had been stopped in time, this time would not have come. It is unfortunate that this incident took place in the home district of the Chief Minister, who is also the Home Minister, and action should be taken against whoever is responsible for this.”

He claimed that the minister (Rane) has been making statements for the last four months that will create a rift between the two communities. He reiterated that it was necessary to stop that minister from creating a rift at the right time, especially, now after Nagpur violence.

Rane recently sparked controversy with his comments about the Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb’s grave in Khuldabad, Sambhaji Nagar (formerly Aurangzeb district). He stated that the day is not far from when the tomb will be removed. He also claimed that there were no Muslims in Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj’s Army. He also appealed to people to buy ‘Malhar Certified’ mutton, a platform aimed at certifying ‘jhatka’ mutton shops.

On Monday, Rane stirred another controversy after he compared Aurangzeb’s grave with a toilet. “The grave is not worth keeping here, even if it is declared a toilet, it would not be wrong. Whatever was done to our Chhatrapati Shivaji and Sambhaji, none of their filth is worth keeping in our state and this is the stand our Chief Minister has taken and this filth is not going to stay for long. You will get the breaking news at the right time,” he remarked.