Charred remains of two-wheelers lie on the roadside in Nagpur after Monday's violent clashes.
Nagpur: More than 50 people have been taken into custody, and five FIRs have been registered in connection with the violence that erupted in Maharashtra’s Nagpur city, Police Commissioner Ravinder Singal said on Tuesday.
The unrest broke out in central Nagpur on Monday evening, with stones hurled at police amid rumors that the Quran was burnt during a protest by a right-wing group demanding the removal of Mughal emperor Aurangzeb’s tomb in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar district.
Addressing reporters, Singal confirmed that over 50 individuals had been detained and multiple FIRs were filed across various police stations.
Nagpur Guardian Minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule emphasized that social media was used to incite tensions and urged the opposition to refrain from politicizing the issue. After reviewing the situation with the police commissioner and district collector, he appealed for communal harmony and defended the home department, stating that police forces acted as a protective barrier between communities during the violence, resulting in injuries to several officers. He reassured that while tensions remained, peace had been restored with adequate security deployment.
Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde strongly condemned the violence, calling it a premeditated act. Speaking in the state council and later in the Assembly, Shinde pointed out suspicious circumstances, noting that cars usually present in Nagpur’s Mobinpura area were absent on the day of the incident. He described the attack as highly destructive, involving arson, property damage, and direct assaults on police officers and fire brigade personnel. He also highlighted the burning of temple photos as a serious concern, asserting that the police would investigate the root cause and ensure strict action against those responsible.
Shinde urged citizens to maintain peace, warning against attempts to create social divides.
Political reactions to the violence have been strong and divided. Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Priyanka Chaturvedi called it a "planned conspiracy" driven by a political agenda against Maharashtra, accusing the state government of negligence and stoking tensions. She criticized Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, alleging that his leadership was pushing Maharashtra into instability and discouraging investments. She cited BJP leader Nitin Gadkari’s remarks that such an incident had never occurred in Nagpur before, labeling the state’s governance as a "double disaster."
Shiv Sena leader Manisha Kayande echoed concerns, condemning the violence and demanding clarity on who was responsible for spreading rumors.
Congress MP Pramod Tiwari called for peace while directly blaming the BJP and its affiliated organizations for exacerbating the unrest.
BJP leaders, on the other hand, alleged a conspiracy behind the violence. BJP State President Chandrashekhar Bawankule described the incident as "unprecedented" and insisted that the manner in which the violence unfolded suggested a well-planned effort. BJP MLA Sanjay Upadhyay took a stronger stance, claiming that Hindus were specifically targeted, their vehicles set on fire, and police officers attacked. He demanded strict action against the perpetrators, including bulldozer operations to dismantle properties linked to those responsible.
