Connect with us
Monday,03-November-2025
Breaking News

Crime

Row over Aurangzeb’s tomb: Nagpur flare-up occurred after hours of mayhem in Mahal

Published

on

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.

Crime

Ten militants of different outfits arrested in Manipur, arms recovered

Published

on

Imphal, Nov 3: Ten extremists of two different banned outfits were arrested by security forces from three separate Manipur districts during the past 24 hours, and some arms and ammunition were recovered from them, officials said on Monday.

A police official said that the arrested militants belonging to different extremist groups — the Kangleipak Communist Party (KCP) and United National Liberation Front (UNLF) — were arrested from Kakching, Thoubal and Imphal West district.

Arms and ammunition were recovered from the arrested militants. The arms include one .303 rifle with a magazine, three single-barreled bore rifles, three shotguns, two 9 mm pistols, and the ammunition included three powerful grenades, five detonators.

Many incriminating documents were also recovered from their custody.

The security forces also destroyed illegal poppy plantations cultivated over a total of 30 acres in the Kangchup areas under the Kangpokpi district.

Three farm huts, three fertiliser bags and two sacks of salt found at the sites were destroyed.

Two burnt Gypsy vehicles were also found at the site.

With the fresh arrest of ten militants, the security forces have arrested 18 extremists of different banned outfits in Manipur during the past 48 hours.

An official said that the hardcore militants were involved in various crimes, including intimidation, forcible collection of subscriptions from people, government employees, contractors and others.

The Manipur Police official said that the security forces continue to conduct a crackdown against the militants, and search operations and area domination are being carried out in the fringe, mixed-populated and vulnerable areas across districts.

According to the official, a total of 115 nakas/checkpoints were installed in different districts of Manipur, both in the hills and the valley region, to prevent untoward and illegal movements of inimical elements and suspected vehicles.

He said that the security forces have provided escorts to many vehicles carrying essential items along the Imphal-Jiribam National Highway (NH-37). Strict security measures have been taken in all vulnerable locations, and a security convoy is provided in sensitive stretches to ensure free and safe movement of vehicles.

Manipur Police have urged people not to believe rumours and be vigilant of false videos. “The veracity of any circulation of unfounded videos, audio clips, etc., may be confirmed from the Central Control Room. Moreover, there are possibilities of many fake posts being circulated on social media. It is hereby cautioned that uploading and circulation of such fake posts on social media will attract legal action with consequences,” a police statement said.

The police authority also appealed to the concerned people to return the looted arms, ammunition and explosives to the police or the nearest security forces post immediately.

Continue Reading

Crime

WC win gives ‘new life’ to my mother: Amanjot’s father who crafted his daughter’s first bat

Published

on

Mohali (Punjab), Nov 3: With India delivering a memorable performance to seal their maiden ICC Women’s World Cup title, all-rounder Amanjot Kaur, who not only enabled to add a glorious chapter in India’s cricketing history but also gave a “new life” to her elderly ailing grandmother, an inspiration for her to rise to fame with sheer hard work and determination despite humble background.

Amanjot’s grandmother, Bhagwanti, is bedridden after suffering a heart attack in September. “The news of India’s victory last night and the outstanding performance by Amanjot have given a new life to my mother,” was the first reaction of the cricketer’s father, Bhupinder Singh, 54, who is a carpenter and crafted her first bat with his own hands, on Monday.

He told Media that his 75-year-old mother Bhagwanti Kaur suffered a heart attack and was again hospitalised last week owing to deteriorating health.

On the request of the family that she should be allowed to stay at home till the final match, doctors discharged her on November 1.

“Though my mother is bedridden but conscious, and we informed her about Amanjot’s grand win, and she responded by opening her eyes,” he added.

India defeated South Africa by 52 runs. Amanjot joined the academy of cricket coach Nagesh Gupta when 15 and her father used to take her daily to the academy from Mohali, located on the outskirts of Chandigarh, on a scooter.

Amanjot was primarily a bowler before she met Chandigarh-based coach Gupta, who transformed her into an all-rounder after her debut in domestic cricket for Punjab in 2017-18. Later, she played for Chandigarh in 2019-20 and, from 2022-23, moved to Punjab.

Amanjot’s catch in the Women’s ODI World Cup 2025 final swung the game for India.

Narrating her daughter’s struggle in the initial years, Bhupinder Singh, who was gifted a Mahindra Thar by his cricketer daughter in 2023, told Media that his mother has been Amanjot’s inspiration to enter the world of cricket.

“When Amanjot started playing ‘gully’ (street) cricket with boys with a dupatta tied around the waist in front of our residence (in Mohali), my mother used to sit there for hours to see her performance and for a pep talk. Also, she used to keep an eye on anti-social elements,” he said, adding that before entering cricket, his daughter played hockey, handball and football.

He said if his daughter had missed securing the catch of the South African skipper, she should be blamed if India lost the final. “If Amanjot had missed the catch and India lost the match, the entire blame should fall on my daughter. But the spectacular catch is a huge moment,” he said with moist eyes and ‘shukrana to waheguru’, adding, “In fact, the catch was a game changer and that was the moment when India won and South Africa lost.”

He said he got the phone call from his daughter at around 1 p.m. Sunday-Monday night about the team’s win and said she would come to stay with the family in six to seven days. “India’s win and the spectacular play of their daughter are inspiring her bedridden ‘dadi’ (grandmother) to live life more, as she is the force behind her success,” Bhupinder Singh said with festivity at his residence in Punjabi style since the team’s win.

Continue Reading

Crime

Mumbai Crime: BEST Conductor Assaulted In Sobo; 29-Year-Old Arrested By L.T. Marg Police

Published

on

Mumbai: The L.T. Marg Police have arrested a 29-year-old man for allegedly assaulting a BEST bus conductor while he was on official duty in South Mumbai. The incident occurred on Sunday afternoon near Vinay Hotel, Thakurdwar Road, Phanaswadi.

According to the First Information Report (FIR) registered under Sections 121(1), 132, 115(2), and 352 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), the complainant, Keshav Ranganath Lokhande (41), a BEST bus conductor residing at Ambika Nivas, Girgaum, was performing his duty on bus number MH01-DR-3927 between 1:00 pm and 1:30 pm when the accused confronted him.

Police said the accused, identified as Rahul Chetan Kachhar (29), obstructed Lokhande, a public servant on duty, argued with him, and in a fit of rage, tore his khaki uniform and inner T-shirt. He also abused and physically assaulted the conductor during the altercation.

The accused, Rahul Kachhar, has been arrested, and a detailed investigation is underway, said an official from L.T. Marg Police Station.

Continue Reading

Trending