8 VHP, Bajrang Dal members surrender to police, get bail in Nagpur violence
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In relation to the violence that erupted in Nagpur, Maharashtra, two days ago, eight members of the Hindutva organisations Vishwa Hindu Parishad and Bajrang Dal turned themselves into the police on Wednesday, according to The Indian Express.
The members turned themselves into the Kotwali Police and were given bail after being brought before a court. The Indian Express claims that they were arrested by the police for allegedly hurting religious sentiments.
Conflicts in Nagpur started on Monday night as Hindutva organisations staged a demonstration in the city calling for the removal of Aurangzeb's tomb at Khuldabad, close to Chhatrapati Sambhaji Nagar.
According to The Times of India, Fahim Shamim Khan, a leader of the Minorities Democratic Party, was also taken into custody by the police earlier on Wednesday on suspicion of being involved in the incident. He is one of the main suspects in the clashes, according to the police.
Khan was taken into custody on Monday after allegedly organising a demonstration outside the Ganeshpeth police station calling for a case to be filed against the Bajrang Dal and Vishwa Hindu Parishad for starting the clashes.
According to The Times of India, one of the six FIRs filed so far in relation to the fights has his name mentioned among the names of more than fifty other suspects. At 7:30 p.m. on Monday, the violence broke out in Chitnis Park in central Nagpur, Scroll.in reported.
A Hindutva group reportedly burned a cloth with the Islamic declaration of faith, known as the Kalma, during an agitation in the late afternoon. However, unidentified Bajrang Dal office-bearers told The Indian Express that their members only burned an effigy of Aurangzeb during the protest. Another clash occurred in Hansapuri, near Chitnis Park, between 10.30 pm and 11.30 pm.
The violence escalated to the Kotwali and Ganeshpeth villages. To disperse the mob in Chitnis Park, police fired tear gas and used lathi charges. On Monday night, several bikes and cars were set on fire.
Following the violence, prohibitory orders banning public meetings were issued under the jurisdiction of 11 police stations in Nagpur. The incident occurred as Hindutva parties, including the Vishwa Hindu Parishad and the Bajrang Dal, ramped up their campaign to remove Aurangzeb's tomb, arguing that it is a "symbol of pain and slavery". On Monday, the two groups protested in many locations throughout Maharashtra.