Nagpur witnessed violent clashes between two groups on Monday, March 17, amid the ongoing controversy over demands to demolish Mughal emperor Aurangzeb’s grave in Sambhajinagar. The unrest led to stone pelting and arson, prompting a heavy police deployment in the city.
Police sources told IANS that members of Bajrang Dal and Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) staged a protest at Shivaji Chowk in the morning, demanding the demolition of Aurangzeb’s grave. During the demonstration, protesters burned an effigy of Aurangzeb and tore a poster. They later gathered outside the district collector’s office, where a minor dispute broke out between two groups. However, officials managed to resolve the situation quickly.
Tensions escalated in the evening when a large group assembled at Shivaji Chowk between 7 and 7:30 pm, protesting against the demonstration held earlier in the day. As one group raised slogans, another group in the area responded with counter-sloganeering. The situation escalated, prompting police to rush to the scene.
Authorities attempted to disperse the crowd, pushing them back from Shivaji Chowk towards Chitnis Park. However, some individuals from the gathering reportedly began pelting stones at the police near the Bhaldarpura area, beyond Chitnis Park. With stones being hurled at security personnel, police responded by using force and deploying tear gas shells to control the situation. Several vehicles were damaged during the clashes, and some were set on fire.
In response to the unrest, Maharashtra Chief Minister and Home Minister Devendra Fadnavis urged Nagpur residents to maintain peace and cooperate with law enforcement.
“We are constantly in touch with the police administration, and the citizens should cooperate with them. Nagpur is a city that loves peace and shares in each other’s happiness and sorrow. This has been a permanent tradition in Nagpur. In such a situation, do not believe in any rumours and fully cooperate with the administration,” Fadnavis said in his appeal.
Union Minister Nitin Gadkari echoed similar sentiments, calling on the people of Nagpur to help maintain law and order while warning against the spread of misinformation.
Congress Legislature Party leader Vijay Wadettiwar also urged citizens to ensure peace but accused the ruling party of provoking the situation.
“Nagpur is a very peaceful city, but it has been attacked by organisations supporting the ruling party. All this has happened because of ministers in the cabinet who made absurd statements. The chief minister should immediately remove these ministers from the cabinet. The government is deliberately trying to spread hatred and incite conflict between the two communities,” he alleged.
Nagpur Police Commissioner Ravinder Singal reassured citizens that the situation was under control and urged them to cooperate with law enforcement.
“My appeal to the citizens is that police are present on the ground. Do not believe in any rumours. Citizens can contact the control room. Do not venture out of homes if not necessary. Our action is underway,” he stated.
He confirmed that the initial clashes erupted after a specific photo was burned but that peace was subsequently restored. However, tensions flared up again when another group gathered and engaged in heated verbal exchanges. The police have registered a case and launched an investigation.
“Police personnel, including senior officers, the State Reserve Police, and the Rapid Action Force, have been deployed to restore normalcy. There was stone pelting, and we are taking those responsible into custody,” Singal added.
He also informed senior officials, including the state director general of police and the additional director general of police, about the developments and the police response to the violence.
(With IANS inputs)
