Incidents of violence at Mira Road, Panvel and Nagpur ahead of Ram Mandir consecration; 13 arrested

According to police, two incidents were reported from Mira Road — one on Sunday night and the other Monday evening. Violence was also reported from Naya Nagar and Bhayander. “Two FIRs were registered and more may be lodged soon. We stopped rallies of Hindus from entering lanes and areas where Muslim population is high to prevent any untoward incident,” said a senior police officer.

Police said in the incident that occurred at around 11 pm Sunday, a group was passing by in their vehicles with saffron flags, chanting “Jai Shri Ram”. They were stopped by local people and an argument broke out with people of another community. Soon a crowd gathered on both sides, said a senior police officer.

Several unverified videos were widely shared on social media, with “Mira Road” trending on X. Some of the X users who shared the video were those who faced police action during the Maha Vikas Aghadi regime in Maharashtra over objectionable messages. In one of the unverified videos, a youth is seen standing on a two-wheeler, who was part of a group wearing saffron, waving a fire arm and a stick during a rally.

Two groups were also involved in stone pelting on Mira Road on Monday, police said, adding additional forces had to be called in for security.
In one of the videos, an injured motorist, who was part of Sunday’s Hindu Shobha Yatra, was seen saying they (attackers) had swords and knives. “I have seen the video. After verification, we will take action,” the senior officer added.

From the videos that were shared widely, unknown people were seen vandalising the vehicles with rods, pelting stones at the windscreen and hitting people sitting inside the vehicles. A vehicle was seen attacked by the mob while a few policemen present at the scene were unable to control the situation. The videos could not be individually verified.

Before the situation escalated, additional forces were deployed and many people were detained and subsequently arrested. Madhukar Pandey, Commissioner, Mira Bhayander-Vasai Virar police, said police immediately arrested five people, while others were arrested on Monday.

In a statement, Fadnavis who also holds the Home portfolio, said, “Police were instructed to take strictest action against the culprits… 13 individuals have been arrested so far and detailed analysis of CCTV footage is underway to identify and arrest others involved… Law and order is the highest priority and concern of the state government… There will be zero tolerance against anyone who tries to take the law into their own hands and attempts to disturb the law and order situation in Maharashtra.”

BJP leader Nitesh Rane took note of the incident and posted a message on social media platform X, seeking revenge.

In the Panvel incident, a group were holding a rally, shouting slogans of Jai Shri Ram that passed by the Kachhi mohalla area, a Muslim-dominated region. When they shouted slogans opposite a mosque, local residents confronted them. During the arguments, there was some scuffle, resulting in minor injuries to three persons. Police have not registered a case yet.

In another incident at Panvel railway station on Monday, video of which was widely shared, members of two communities were seen chanting slogans. Railway Police pacified the groups and registered cross complaints against both the groups.

Shiv Sena (Eknath Shinde camp) MLA Pratap Sarnaik has demanded an SIT probe into the Mira road incident and demanded the arrest of all the accused within 48 hours, failing which he would organise a rally in the area on January 25. Sarnaik wrote a letter to MBVV police commissioner Madhukar Pandey, demanding action.