Nagpur Riots: Violence broke out in Nagpur, Maharashtra on the night of Monday, March 17, 2025. This violence spread to many areas including Ganeshpeth. Vishwa Hindu Parishad’s national spokesperson Vinod Bansal reacted strongly to this and called it a well-planned conspiracy.
Vinod Bansal posted on Twitter, “Jihadi attack in Nagpur: Jihadi elements of Aurangzebi mentality in the Mahal area of Nagpur today (Monday night) just a short while ago, carried out major vandalism, arson and violence under a well-planned conspiracy. Even during the fast, the Jihadis came out of the mosque and did not spare even the police personnel along with Hindu houses, shops and vehicles. The incident is very painful and condemnable. Appropriate action is necessary.”
Demand to remove Aurangzeb’s tomb
The demand to remove Aurangzeb’s tomb is gaining momentum in Maharashtra at this time. Meanwhile, let us also know how this violence broke out in Nagpur and how the controversy started.
How did the violence break out?
According to the PTI report, what happened was that Bajrang Dal members, demanding the removal of Aurangzeb’s tomb, were protesting near the statue of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. During the protest on Monday, a rumour spread that the holy religious text had been burnt. After this, anger spread in the other community. A tense situation arose and violence broke out between the two communities over Aurangzeb’s tomb. During this, stones were also pelted heavily.
Stones were also pelted at the police
Stones were also pelted in the Chitnis Park area of the palace at 7:30 pm. During this, stones were also pelted at the police, due to which three officers and 6 civilians were injured. After this, this violence spread to Kotwali and Ganeshpeth and increased even more by night.
Curfew has been imposed in 10 police station areas after the violence in Nagpur.
After the uproar over Aurangzeb’s tomb in Maharashtra, a violent clash broke out between two groups in the Mahal area of Nagpur on Monday evening. During this, the miscreants set many vehicles on fire. Stones were pelted on the police and public property was damaged. Many policemen including the DCP were also injured in the stone pelting. The administration imposed curfew in the violence-hit areas to control the situation and additional police force has been deployed. In this case, the police have detained 40 miscreants. Know the big updates of violence in Nagpur.
1- Officials said that violence broke out in the Chitnis Park area of Central Nagpur at around 7.30 pm on Monday evening, stones were pelted on the police. According to PTI, a rumor spread that the holy book of the Muslim community was burnt during the agitation being carried out by the VHP-Bajrang Dal to remove Aurangzeb’s tomb. However, Bajrang Dal denied the allegation and said that the protesters had burnt the effigy of Aurangzeb. Six people and five policemen, including the DCP, were injured in this violence. DCP Niketan was attacked with an axe.
2- Another clash took place in Hanspuri area near Old Bhandara Road between 10.30 pm and 11:30 pm on Monday night. The unruly mob burnt several vehicles and vandalised houses and a clinic in the area. Sharad Gupta (50), a resident of Hanspuri, said that the mob came between 10.30 and 11.30 pm and set the vehicles on fire after pelting stones. He said that the police arrived after an hour. Angry people demanded immediate police action against the mob.
3- Nagpur Rural Police has also been called to stop the violence and search for the accused. Cyber police is working to prevent the spread of rumours. After scanning viral videos and CCTV, the police have detained more than 40 miscreants.
4- CM Devendra Fadnavis has appealed to maintain peace in Nagpur. He said, ‘The way the situation became tense in Mahal area of Nagpur is highly condemnable. Some people also pelted stones at the police, which is wrong. I am monitoring the situation. I have told the Police Commissioner to take whatever strict steps are required to maintain law and order. If someone riots, pelts stones at the police or creates tension in the society, then strict action should be taken against all such people. I appeal to everyone to ensure that the peace of Nagpur is not disturbed. If anyone tries to create tension, strict action will be taken against him.’
5- Union Minister and Nagpur MP Nitin Gadkari said, ‘Due to some rumours, a situation of religious tension has arisen in Nagpur. Nagpur city has a history of maintaining peace in such cases. I urge all my brothers not to believe any kind of rumours and maintain peace. Do not come out on the streets. Cooperate with law and order. Maintain the tradition of peace and harmony for which Nagpur is known. I assure all of you that the government will take action against those who have made a mistake or are involved in illegal activities. The Chief Minister has already been informed about this situation, so I request everyone not to pay attention to rumours. Please cooperate with the police administration, spread love and maintain a positive atmosphere in the city.’
6- Former Maharashtra Chief Minister and Deputy CM Eknath Shinde, while talking to ABP News, said that strict action will be taken against the accused of Nagpur violence. He said that Aurangzeb’s supporters are our enemies. Strict action will be taken against them. Shinde alleged that all this has been done under complete planning.
7- Maharashtra minister and state BJP chief Chandrashekhar Bawankule says, ‘The first priority is to restore peace in the society and keep away from rumours. After investigation it will be known why the unrest happened, but the people of Nagpur should not pay attention to rumours and support the police administration. The police is trying to maintain peace. We all have urged everyone to maintain peace and maintain the reputation of Nagpur city. I urge all the political parties and politicians of Maharashtra to come together and try to make the society peaceful and explain to the people that the police will identify the rioters, but do not give political color to this incident.’
8- Maharashtra Minority Commission Chairman Pyare Khan said that this is a very unfortunate incident. Such an incident should not have happened in a city like Nagpur. He said, ‘During Ram Navami, Muslim people here set up tents to welcome Hindus. There is a dargah here where people of all religions, Hindus, Muslims, Sikhs, Christians, come, those who are involved in this violence are not people of this place (Nagpur). Some anti-social elements came from outside and carried out this incident. I appeal to everyone to maintain peace.’
9- Maharashtra Congress Chief Harshvardhan Sapkal termed the Nagpur incident unfortunate and said, ‘I appeal to the people of Nagpur not to believe in rumours. Maintain peace. People of all religions live together happily and joyfully in Nagpur. It is the failure of the Home Department that so much tension, stone pelting and arson took place in this city and the police had no information about it. For the last few days, the state cabinet ministers have been trying to create social suffering by making provocative statements. Their efforts seem to be successful in Nagpur. The state is facing many issues like inflation, unemployment, agriculture, unfulfilled promises of loan waiver, but the BJP is making provocative statements to divert attention from this. Nagpur is a city of social harmony. There has never been a riot in Nagpur. During Ram Navami, Hindus and Muslims pull the chariot together. More Hindus are seen than Muslims at Tajuddin Baba’s Dargah.’
10- Nagpur Police Commissioner Dr. Ravinder Singhal said that the situation is under control. He said, ‘A picture was burnt after which people gathered and we took action on their request. A delegation of people also came to my office to meet me. We have registered an FIR. The incident happened around 8:30 pm. 2 vehicles were burnt and stone pelting took place. The commissioner said that the police is conducting a search operation to identify and arrest the people involved in this.’ He said that section 163 (formerly 144) of the Indian Civil Security Code has been imposed in the entire area and everyone has been told not to go out unnecessarily and not to take the law into their own hands. Do not believe in rumors. He said that curfew has been imposed in Kotwali, Ganeshpeth, Lakadganj, Pachpavli, Shantinagar, Sakkardara, Nandanvan, Imamwada, Yashodhara Nagar and Kapil Nagar police station areas of Nagpur city. This curfew will remain in force till further orders.