Nagpur Violence Live Updates: Local court remands 17 accused in police custody till Saturday

Seventeen individuals arrested in connection with the violent unrest that occurred in Nagpur earlier this week have been remanded to police custody until March 22. The violence broke out on Monday evening after rumors spread about a ‘chadar’ with holy inscriptions being burnt during protests led by the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP), which had been calling for the removal of Aurangzeb's tomb in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar district. Large-scale stone-pelting and arson ensued, leaving 33 police officers, including three DCP-rank officers, injured. The accused were presented before Magistrate Maimuna Sultana on Thursday night, with the police requesting seven days of custodial interrogation to identify the masterminds and main perpetrators behind the violence. Assistant public prosecutor Megha Burange argued that the accused had caused widespread terror and assaulted police personnel, justifying the need for their custody. However, defense lawyers disputed the claims, arguing that no specific role had been attributed to the arrested individuals and alleging that the police had made arbitrary arrests without sufficient evidence. The court observed that, due to the involvement of a mob, it would be difficult to assign specific roles at this stage and noted that the investigation was still in its early stages.

As the BJP-led Maharashtra government fights the fires over Aurangzeb, with its leaders seeking the razing of his tomb, the RSS has said that the Mughal Emperor is not relevant any more.

However, the Sangh has condemned the violence over demands for removal of the tomb, which erupted two days ago in Nagpur, not far from the RSS headquarters.

The statement was made by RSS national publicity in-charge Sunil Ambekar in Bengaluru, addressing a press conference on the Akhil Bharatiya Pratinidhi Sabha Baithak of the RSS to be held between March 21 and 23 in the town.

To a question on whether Aurangzeb, who died 300 years ago, was relevant today and if his tomb should be removed, Ambekar said: “I think (he is) not relevant.”

On the Nagpur violence, he added: “I think any type of violence is not good for society. The police have taken cognisance of it and will go into the details.”

The alleged “mastermind” of the violence that erupted in Nagpur following a protest demanding razing of the tomb of Emperor Aurangzeb is a worker of the local Minorities Democratic Party (MDP), Fahim Shamim Khan.

The MDP is the political front of the Mohammad Hamid Engineer-led Imaan Tanzeem, which has in the past expressed concerns over the growing influence of the Wahhabi sect, seen as more hardline among Muslims. In 2015, Engineer was a part of the delegation of Muslim leaders who met Prime Minister Narendra Modi to discuss the concerns of the Sunni community.

The Tanzeem specifically advocates for the cause of political empowerment of the Ahle Sunnatul Jamaat and preservation of traditional Sunni practices.

The MDP, which was founded in 2009 in response to the rising political influence of other Muslim sects, goes by the slogan: “Jo Sufi santo ki baat karega, woh hee Bharat par raj karega,” (He who speaks of Sufi saints will rule over India).

Members of the Muslim community in Nagpur have condemned the violence that erupted in the city earlier this week and called for an impartial probe into the incidents, which they claim could have been prevented with timely police action. The violence, which included large-scale stone pelting and arson, broke out on Monday evening in several parts of the city after rumours circulated about a ‘chadar’ with holy Islamic inscriptions being burnt during a protest led by the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP). Addressing a press conference on Thursday, leaders of the community urged Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis to meet representatives from both communities in a bid to restore peace.

The curfew in Police Stations Kotwali, Tehsil, Ganeshpeth, Lakadganj, Pachpaoli, Shantinagar in Zone 03, Sakkardara, Imamwada in Zone 04, and Yashodharanagar in Zone 05 will continue as it is until further orders, as per a new order.

Security beefed up in city owing to Friday prayers

Maharashtra Congress chief Harshvardhan Sapkal on Thursday set up a committee of party leaders to visit the riot-affected areas of Nagpur.

Large-scale stone pelting and arson were reported in several parts of Vidarbha's largest city on Monday evening after rumours began circulating about a ‘chadar' with holy inscriptions being burnt during protests led by the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) seeking the removal of Aurangzeb's tomb.

The committee set up by Sapkal includes AICC in charge of Goa Manikrao Thakare, senior leaders Nitin Raut, Yashomati Thakur, Hussain Dalwai and Sajid Pathan. Nagpur district congress chief and MLA Vikas Thakare is the convenor and AICC Secretary Praful Gudade Patil is the coordinator, party functionaries said.

The violence and arson that rocked Nagpur on Monday night was a black spot on the state's glory. It was very unfortunate that some people tried to disrupt peace in the state. There is need to ensure peace and social harmony. The committee will visit riot affected areas , talk to the locals," a Congress statement informed. --PTI

Speaking on the Disha Salian case, Shiv Sena (UBT) Uddhav Thackeray chief said, "We were wondering how come the issue was not raised in previous two sessions. The matter is sub-judice and if anyone has any evidence, then it can be produced in the court."

Salian, a celebrity manager, died allegedly by suicide on June 8, 2020, a week before actor Sushant Singh Rajput’s death.

The matter was raised at the ongoing Maharashtra Assemly session after her father told the media for first time that he suspected foul play in her death, and would move the Bombay High Court demanding a CBI probe. The Mumbai police maintained that they found no evidence of foul play.

The investigation in Rajput's case, which has often been linked with Salian's, was transferred to CBI from the Mumbai police but the agency has not taken any action against anyone.

A Special Investigation Team (SIT) was formed in December 2023 after BJP leader Nitesh Rane brought up the issue in the state Assembly.

The SIT told The Indian Express that the probe did not move forward as no one, including family members and Rane, came forward when summons were issued.

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Thursday condemned the violence in Maharashtra’s Nagpur, asserting that India is known for unity in diversity.

Speaking to reporters at the state secretariat, Banerjee refrained from making a detailed statement on the issue, saying, “I don’t want to comment on it. But we condemn this violence."

"Our country is known for its unity in diversity. After the demolition of Babri Masjid, I hit the streets to protect communal harmony. I don’t want to make any comment on the Nagpur situation,” she added.

The cyber police have booked local leader Fahim Khan, a key accused in the Nagpur violence, and five others on charges of sedition and spreading misinformation on social media during the unrest here, officials said on Thursday.

These six persons are among 50 accused against whom the cyber department has registered four First Information Reports (FIRs) in connection with the violence here on Monday, they said. --PTI

Curfew was lifted on Thursday in Nandanvan and Kapil Nagar following the restoration of peace in most areas in Nagpur city.

The curfew will also be relaxed from 2 pm to 4 pm for purchasing essential commodities in Lakadganj, Pachpavali, Shantinagar, Sakkardara, Imamwada, and Yashodharanagar, news agency ANI reported Napur police saying.

Amid demands that the tomb of Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb situated in Maharashtra's Sambhajinagar district be removed, the Archeological Survey of India (ASI) has put up tin sheets on two sides of the 18th century structure.

The decision was taken by the district administration two days ago when collector Dilip Swami and Superintendent of Police Vinaykumar Rathod visited the tomb at Khultabad with ASI officials.

Tin sheets and wire fencing were put up on two sides of the structure on Wednesday night, a local official said.

A circular fence will also be installed around the tomb, a senior district official said.

"The green net covering two sides of the tomb was in bad shape, and the structure was visible to those visiting the nearby Khwaja Syed Zainuddin Chishti grave. So we have installed tin sheets," he told PTI. (PTI)

The Shiv Sena (UBT) on Thursday said Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis `blaming' the film "Chhaava" for the Nagpur violence was a sign of his "weak morale."

The editorial in the party mouthpiece `Saamana' asked, on a sarcastic note, of the the BJP-led government was planning to register cases against the film's actors, director and producers over Monday's incidents in the state's second capital.

The climax of the historical film depicting the brutal execution of Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj, the second ruler of the Maratha state, on the orders of Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb incited emotions, it said.

"Blaming 'Chhaava' for Nagpur riots is a sign of Devendra Fadnavis's weak morale," the editorial said.

On Tuesday, Fadnavis had stated that the film presented the true story of the Maratha king, and after watching it people were expressing their anger about Aurangzeb, a 17th century ruler, in a big way. (PTI)

On RSS' Sunil Ambekar's statement on Nagpur violence, Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav said, "...The same people raise this issue, and the same people ignite the fire and now they are saying that the issue should not be raised..."

Microsoft founder and billionaire Bill Gates met Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis in Mumbai on Thursday.

Normalcy has been restored in Nagpur following the recent violence, an official said on Thursday.

Speaking to ANI, Nagpur Collector Dr Vipin Itankar said, "Normalcy has been restored, but a curfew is imposed in some parts. We are in touch with the Police on this." Collector Itankar added that the government is currently assessing the damage to civilian property and will provide compensation to those affected.

"The government will assess the damages to property suffered by civilians in this incident to release compensation. As per the initial assessment, 50-60 two-wheelers, 10-15 four-wheelers, cranes and some 5-10 houses were damaged. A team doing Panchmana is on the job," he said.

Police have formed 18 special teams to track down and arrest those involved in the violence in Maharashtra's Nagpur city, officials said on Thursday.

As of now, 69 persons have been in connection with the violence which took place here on Monday. Curfew remained imposed in several areas of the city for the third day on Thursday.

The police have so far identified 200 accused and are actively working to identify another 1,000 suspects captured in CCTV footage of the riots, a senior official said.

On Monday, five First Information Reports (FIRs) were registered at the Ganeshpeth and Kotwali police stations wherein 200 accused have been named.

Efforts were on to identify the others involved in the violence with the help of the CCTV footage, the official said. (PTI)

Maharashtra minister Yogesh Kadam said that the search for the mastermind of the violence is still on, and the people who are responsible for attacking the police will not be spared. "We will show what is meant by fear of the police. They will not be spared," he added.

He said the government would ensure that the police morale is not affected, adding that instructions have been given to take the strictest action.

In the wake of the Nagpur violence, Maharashtra Cyber department has identified more than 140 posts and videos containing objectionable contents across social media platforms aimed at inciting communal unrest, officials said.

These videos and posts were found uploaded on Facebook, Instagram, X and YouTube, an official said on Wednesday.

Notices have been issued under section 79(3)(b) of the Information Technology (IT) Act 2000 to facilitate the immediate take-down of such content, he said.

Additionally, notices have also been served under section 94 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS) to uncover the real identities of the individuals operating these accounts. (PTI)