Prohibitory orders have been imposed in Nagpur after violent clashes broke out in the Hansapuri area on Tuesday evening during an agitation by a right-wing body for the removal of Aurangzeb's tomb.
Nagpur CP Dr Ravinder Singal said that section 163 of Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita ( empowering Magistrates to issue immediate preventive orders in urgent cases to prevent obstruction, danger to human life, public disturbance, or riots, and can be directed at individuals, specific areas, or the general public) has been imposed in the city after houses were burnt and vehicles vandalised.
The police have so far detained 80 people, while a curfew has been imposed in Kotwali, Ganeshpeth, Lakadganj, Pachpavali, Shantinagar, Sakkardara, Nandanvan, Imamwada, Yashodharanagar and Kapilnagar areas of Nagpur.
Maharashtra Police have now started taking action against the rioters, Aurangzeb sympathizers who pelted stones, set vehicles on fire and vandalized properties in Nagpur.
— Anshul Saxena (@AskAnshul) March 17, 2025
Violence erupted after false rumours about the Quran being burned. 15 Policemen also injured in violence. pic.twitter.com/yKT2x7GZ7J
Crazy footage I caught of Nagpur riots. #NagpurRiots #nagpur #NagpurViolence
— Invincible (@RageMonk) March 17, 2025
After this they started burning cars. pic.twitter.com/mRMEu83mrG
Amid the violence, Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde has said that the violence was planned and whoever is involved will not be spared. "There was some protest against Aurangzeb in the afternoon, and at night, the police were attacked with stones. This was done with complete planning. No accused will be spared," he added.
Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis warned of strict action against anyone who riots or pelts stones at the police. He said the way the situation unfolded at Nagpur's Mahal area was condemnable and that he has instructed the police commissioner to take whatever steps necessary to control the situation.
What really happened?
Around 30 to 35 activists of a right-wing organisation took out a protest march by hitting a portrait of Aurangazeb around 2 pm. There were rumours about an attempt to set on fire the symbolic tomb of Aurangazeb and scriptures on it.
The activists were near the tomb shouting slogans till 7 pm after which police forced them to end the protest. However, by 8 pm, another group arrived at the area, hearing about the alleged burning of the religious scripture. Police surrounded the entire area and deployed a large contingent of police but both groups raised slogans against each other.
As the argument turned violent, the police forced the nearby shops to close and contain the altercation. Stones were thrown at the police, following which tear gas canisters were fired at the crowd. Youths from both groups started pelting stones at each other. Some started setting fire to the place.
The incident left six persons and three policemen injured. Riots broke out around 8.40 pm. The police continue a 'combing operation'.
Another clash broke out in the Hansapuri area near the Old Bhandara Road between 10:30 pm to 11:30 pm. An unruly mob burnt several vehicles, and vandalised houses and a clinic in the area.
