Nagpur Violence Highlights: RSS says Mughal emperor Aurangzeb is ’irrelevant’; 54 detained by police

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Nagpur Riots Today LIVE: Eight functionaries of Vishwa Hindu Parishad and Bajrang Dal on Wednesday surrendered before the Nagpur Police investigating charges of hurting religious sentiments and illegal protest that triggered violence two days back, a senior officer said.

The accused were produced in court, which granted them bail.

Nagpur Riots Today LIVE: In a stern warning to perpetrators of Nagpur violence, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Wednesday said attackers of police will be "dug out from their graves" and made to face the law.

His reaction comes amid outrage over rioters allegedly touching a woman constable inappropriately and trying to disrobe her during violence on Monday night. The mob had hurled stones and petrol bombs, injuring 33 police personnel, including three DCP-rank officers.

Nagpur Riots Today LIVE: Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, speaking in the Maharashtra Assembly, stated that an investigation is underway into the recent violence in Nagpur. He assured that peace prevails in the city and emphasized that there had been no riots in the area for several years.

He alleged that misinformation was deliberately spread and reiterated the government's commitment to maintaining law and order.

Nagpur Riots Today LIVE: Nagpur Police have arrested 50 people, including seven minors, in connection with the recent violence in the city, Commissioner Ravinder Singal said on Wednesday.

Nagpur Riots Today LIVE: In an editorial in its mouthpiece 'Saamana', the Uddhav Thackeray-led party said that since the release of "Chhaava" movie, the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), Bajrang Dal, Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) and the "neo-Hindutvavadis" of the BJP have been raising the heat over Aurangzeb's tomb and disturbing the atmosphere in the state. 

The Vicky Kaushal-starrer movie "Chhaava" is based on the life of Sambhaji Maharaj, the second Chhatrapati of the Maratha empire who was brutally killed by Aurangzeb.

Nagpur Riots Today LIVE: Opposition Shiv Sena (UBT) on Wednesday said the Centre should remove the protected monument tag of Aurangzeb's tomb, located in Maharashtra's Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar district, to prevent riots and to cool down the heads of fanatics in the state.

Nagpur Riots Today LIVE: Amid reports of Fahim Khan's arrest, Maharashtra minister Yogesh Kadam said on Wednesday that police have so far arrested 54 people in connection with the Nagpur violence, while a search is on to trace the mastermind.

"Police are looking for the mastermind behind the violence," Kadam said and warned of action against those circulating wrong videos on social media.

Nagpur Riots Today LIVE: Minority Democratic Party (MDP) leader Fahim Khan has been arrested for allegedly leading a protest outside a Nagpur police station on Monday after VHP workers staged an agitation for the removal of Aurangzeb's tomb, which triggered violence.

Khan's name is mentioned in one of six FIRs registered so far along with 50 others in connection with the violent clashes that left several police personnel injured. Police are investigating whether Khan played any role in instigating riots, an official said on Wednesday.

Nagpur Riots Today LIVE: Congress leader Nana Patole on Wednesday called on the Maharashtra government to have a discussion in Vidhan Sabha on the March 17 Nagpur violence that saw incidents of stone pelting and vehicles torched.

He further stated that during the debate, the opposition will present their views on the incident of violence.

On the First Information Report registered and further investigation into Nagpur violence, Patole told ANI, "Let us have a discussion in Vidhan Sabha; we will present our views there..."

Nagpur Riots Today LIVE: Akhil Bharatiya Prachar Pramukh of the RSS, Sunil Ambekar said on Wednesday that any form of violence is detrimental to the society's well-being. He also emphasised that the 17th-century Mughal emperor Aurangzeb is no longer relevant in today's context.

Eight workers of the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) and Bajrang Dal surrendered before Kotwali police on Wednesday. Police arrested them and produced them before the court. The cops have registered FIRs against office-bearers of the VHP and Bajrang Dal for allegedly hurting religious sentiments during their protest demanding the removal of Mughal emperor Aurangzeb's tomb in Sambhajinagar (formerly Aurangabad).

Nagpur Riots Today LIVE: A FIR has been registered against a group of rioters at the Ganeshpeth Police Station for reportedly molesting a woman cop during Nagpur violence. The FIR reveals they shouted provocative slogans with a purpose to incite communal tension in the area.

"Taking advantage of the darkness, the group tried to touch a woman constable of the Riot Control Police (RCP) and her uniform, and tried to disrobe her. They used abusive language and passed vulgar remarks against other women police personnel. The rioters also made objectionable gestures towards them and attacked them," an official said. 

Nagpur Riots Today LIVE: Maharashtra Police on Wednesday arrested Fahim Shamim Khan, allegedly the main accused and mastermind behind the Nagpur clashes. Khan, 38, is the city president of the Minorities Democratic Party and a resident of Sanjay Bagh Colony in Nagpur's Yashodhara Nagar.

Nagpur Riots Today LIVE: On social media, police are tracking and tackling “objectionable” posts and have deleted more than 500 items, a police official told PTI.

Nagpur Riots Today LIVE: The grave site of Mughal emperor Aurangzeb has been declared as a “no drone zone” by the administration on March 19, PTI reported.

An official told the agency that Aurangzeb's tomb at Khultabad in Maharashtra’s Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar district, has been declared a “no drone” zone.

Nagpur Riots Today  LIVE: Mob tried to take advantage of the darkness and chaos to touch and disrobe a riot control police woman constable, PTI reported, citing one of the FIRs filed at the Ganeshpeth police station. 

"Taking advantage of the darkness, the group tried to touch a woman constable of the Riot Control Police (RCP) and her uniform, and tried to disrobe her. They used abusive language and passed vulgar remarks against other women police personnel. The rioters also made objectionable gestures towards them and attacked them," the FIR said.

Nagpur Riots Today LIVE: A police official told PTI that over 2,000 armed police personnel have been deployed for duty in the sensitive areas of Nagpur.

Besides this, quick response teams (QRT) and riot control police (RCP) patrols, led by DCP-rank officers are conducting patrols.

Police Commissioner Ravinder Kumar Singal told PTI that the security situation in Nagpur will be reviewed in the afternoon on March 19 (today).

Nagpur Riots Today LIVE: Congress MLA Vijay Wadettiwar told ANI that “criminals should not be spared…”

Nagpur Riots Today LIVE: According to the FIR filed by Police Inspector Jitendra Baburao Gadge, "The protest turned violent when the crowd began hurling stones and throwing petrol bombs at police officers. Police were reportedly attacked with deadly weapons like axes and iron rods. The crowd, despite repeated warnings from the police to disperse, continued to engage in violent actions, threatening the safety of both police personnel and civilians."

Nagpur riots Today LIVE: Lok Sabha MP Pappu Yadav has called for ban on the Bajrang Dal and Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP) due to the groups' “hooligan” members involvement in the Nagpur violence, ANI reported. 

Speaking in the Lok Sabha, Yadav said: “People from Bajrang Dal and Vishva Hindu Parishad are hooligans; they should be banned. These people are protected by the government. I believe that the country's economy and progress are being affected now. There is a need to think on this now.”

Nagpur Riots Today LIVE: The Judicial Magistrate First Class Court (JMFC) has remanded 19 accused in the Nagpur violence case to police custody till March 21, according to an ANI report. 

The accused were produced before the court yesterday (March 18), by the Ganeshpeth police.

Nagpur Riots Today LIVE: Maharashtra's Minister of State for Home, Yogesh Kadam, has condemned the recent violence in Nagpur and promised ‘strictest action’ against those responsible for attacking police personnel, ANI reported.

"The incident that happened in Nagpur is very serious... Strictest action will be taken. People having the audacity to raise their hands on DCP-level officers and police personnel will not be tolerated at all," Kadam said.

Nagpur Riots Today LIVE: Police and security personnel conducted a flag march in the violence-hit areas of Maharashtra's Nagpur to instil confidence among the people.

Nagpur Riots Today LIVE: Union Minister Prahlad Joshi assured that the Maharashtra government is taking strict action against those responsible. “Govt is handling the situation very well and such things should not happen... It is not about this party or that party, whoever has done wrong, Maharashtra govt is taking action against them,” he said.

Nagpur Riots Today LIVE: Emphasising that the perpetrators involved in the Nagpur violence must be punished, Shiv Sena (UBT) spokesperson Anand Dubey blamed the VHP and Bajrang Dal for starting problems in a peaceful city.

"For the last 100 years, all communities have lived peacefully in Nagpur... This is the first time that VHP and Bajrang Dal started an agitation, and then it resulted in violence after a rumour was spread... The perpetrators must be punished... It should be investigated who started all of this..." Dubey told ANI.

Nagpur Riots Today LIVE: As many as 51 individuals, including several minors, have been named in the FIRs filed by Police Inspector Jitendra Baburao Gadge in relation to the violence in Nagpur, as per an ANI report.

The accused are primarily from Nagpur city, residing in areas such as Jafar Nagar, Tajbagh, Mominpura, and Bhalaadapura, it added.

Nagpur Riots Today LIVE: This curfew due to the Nagpur violence applies to police station limits in Kotwali, Ganeshpeth, Tehsil, Lakadganj, Pachpaoli, Shantinagar, Sakkardara, Nandanvan, Imamwada, Yashodharanagar, and Kapilnagar, as per an ANI report.

Nagpur Riots Today LIVE: A curfew was imposed in multiple areas of Nagpur city under Section 163 of the Bhartiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), PTI reported. It added that as per the official order, the restrictions will remain in place until further notice.

Nagpur Riots Today LIVE: Speaking to ANI about the violence in Nagpur and FIRs registered by the police against people from the Bajrang Dal and Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP), Samajwadi Party MP Ram Gopal Yadav said: “There will be action against people who incited riots.”

Nagpur Riots Today LIVE: FIR filed at Ganeshpeth Police Station shows that an accused inappropriately touched the uniform and body of an on-duty woman police officer of the RCP squad, ANI reported. 

The accused also made obscene gestures and misbehaved with some women police personnel, it added.

Nagpur Riots Today LIVE: Speaking to reporters on the clashes and violence in the city, Nagpur Police Commissioner Dr Ravinder Singal said investigation into who and how, is ongoing.

“Whether someone was conspiring this and how many people were involved in it is being investigated. “We have registered a case and are arresting people. Our action to establish peace is continuing," Dr Singhal said.

"Social media is being monitored, and we are developing the information we are getting. Whether someone was conspiring this and how many people were involved in it is being investigated,” he added.

Nagpur Riots Today LIVE: Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde speaking to the media on March 18, urged citizens to maintain peace. He added that police are investigating if the incident was a “pre-planned conspiracy”, according to a PTI report.

“The incident which occurred in Nagpur is unfortunate. Police are investigating if this was a pre-planned conspiracy. Four DCP level officers were injured in this incident. The CM is reviewing the situation," Shinde said. 

“Police have said that many people came from outside. Petrol bombs were also hurled. It is unfortunate that the Police were also attacked. Strict action will be taken in this incident. I appeal to all to maintain peace,” he added.

agpur Riots Today LIVE: Amid a row over Mughal emperor Aurangzeb's tomb and resulting violence in Nagpur, Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde questioned the “glorification of Aurangzeb”, according to a PTI report.

“Who is Aurangzeb? Why should we allow his glorification in our state? He is a blot on our history,” Dy CM Eknath Shinde said in his closing remarks in the legislative council. The Mughal emperor's tomb has become a point of contention with right-wing outfits demanding its removal.

Nagpur Riots Today LIVE: The police have arrested more than 50 people in connection to the Nagpur violence, while 5 FIRs have been registered so far, reported NDTV. Curfew will continue in 11 areas.

Nagpur Riots Today LIVE: Blaming the government for the riots, AIMIM chief and Lok Sabha MP Asaduddin Owaisi told ANI, “I condemn the violence, but one should look at the bigger picture, including the statements given by ministers. They should follow the rule of law, as they have taken an oath on India's Constitution. How can you make provocative statements? This is really wrong; it is the responsibility and fault of the government, an intelligence failure. This happened near a minister's house too.”

BJP MP Dinesh Sharma told ANI, “The Opposition is reviving the ideology of Aurangzeb... Instead of promoting the ideology of Aurangzeb, they (Congress) should promote the ideology of Dr APJ Abdul Kalam.”

Nagpur Riots Today LIVE: BJP MP Ashok Chavan told ANI, “This is a sad incident. Police have brought the situation under control, but it is not right to have communal riots on such issues in the country, it is not right in a progressive state like Maharashtra. The government has brought the entire situation under control. Police have detained many people. The truth will come out after investigation."

Nagpur Riots Today LIVE: Union Minister Prahlad Joshi claimed that the Maharashtra government will take strict action against rioters.

While speaking about the incident, Joshi told ANI, "Govt is handling the situation very well and such things should not happen... It is not about this party or that party, whoever has done wrong, Maharashtra govt is taking action against them."

Nagpur Riots Today LIVE: VHP member Rajkumar Sharma told ANI, “riots were planned by the 'Aurangzeb ki aulad'...They gathered in the mosque there; they planned to close their shops, loot the shops of Hindus and attack their houses. This was all planned, and an attempt was made to incite an issue which has no meaning... If the administration feels that the effigy of Aurangzeb was burnt, we have no objection to the administration's action...this country will run as per the Constitution...But these 'Aurangzeb ki aulad' should also understand that this country will run as per the Constitution.”

Nagpur Riots Today LIVE: Emphasing that Opposition should not make a fuss about the incident, NCP Rajya Sabha MP Praful Patel Tuesday downplayed the March 17 Nagpur incident of violence. He stated that the Opposition should appeal to public to maintain peace.

"The incident that happened in Nagpur is unfortunate. Such an incident never happens in Nagpur because it is a very peaceful city and people live together in harmony. This incident is not so big that the Opposition should make noise about it. They (Opposition) should appeal to the public to maintain peace," Patel told ANI.

Nagpur Riots Today LIVE: Vanchit Bahujan Aaghadi President Prakash Ambedkar voiced strong criticism of the Police's response to the recent violence in Nagpur, reported ANI.

He highlighted the role of misinformation in escalating tensions, stating that timely intervention by the police could have prevented the unrest.

According to Ambedkar, rumours about the burning of green cloth and the Quran fueled the violence.

He said, "According to the information provided to me by my workers, an effigy of the Mazar, which had a green cloth draped over it, was set on fire. Initially, a rumor spread that the green Mazar itself had been burned. Before the namaz could begin, a delegation approached the police commissioner to inform him about the false rumor being circulated."

"Before the namaz is over, the police should have reacted to it. The rumour was that the Quran was burnt... If the police had acted on these two reports, which they had, and made a statement that no Quran was burnt and no green cloth was burnt, I think the situation would have been a different one. I would not say the police should alone be held responsible, after all, they have to manage the show," he further added.

Nagpur Riots Today LIVE: Police and security personnel conduct a flag march in the violence-hit area to instill confidence among people.

Nagpur Riots Today LIVE: Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Uddhav Thackeray on Tuesday slammed the Mahayuti government in Maharashtra for raking up a “400-year-old issue”. He said that the government should raze Mughal emperor Aurangzeb’s tomb in Maharashtra’s Khultabad.

“Raze Aurangzeb’s tomb immediately, but do call Nitish Kumar and Chandrababu Naidu when that happens,” PTI quoted Thackeray as saying.

Nagpur Riots Today LIVE: Maharashtra Police in Nagpur on Tuesday registered a case against some office-bearers of Vishwa Hindu Parishad and Bajrang Dal for allegedly hurting religious sentiments during their protest demanding removal of Mughal emperor Aurangzeb's tomb, PTI quoted officials as saying.

The first information report (FIR) was registered at the Ganeshpeth police station against Govind Shende, VHP's secretary in-charge of Maharashtra and Goa and others, they said.

Nagpur Riots Today LIVE: On Monday's clash and violence, Nagpur Police Commissioner Dr Ravinder Singal said, as quoted by ANI, "We have registered case and are arresting people. Our action to establish peace is continuing. Social media is being monitored and we are developing the information we are getting. Whether someone was conspiring this and how many people were involved in it is being investigated."

Nagpur Riots Today LIVE: On the Nagpur incident, Samajwadi Party MLA Abu Azmi said, as quoted by ANI, "I am regretful and deeply saddened that Nagpur, where everyone was living with harmony, communal riots never occurred earlier, has witnessed such a major incident this time. Several people have been injured. I just want to say, do not get provoked by anyone. I appeal to everyone to maintain peace and work towards the progress of the country..."

Nagpur Riots Today LIVE: Reacting on Nagpur violence, Samajwadi Party MP Pushpendra Saroj said, as quoted by ANI, “Ever since BJP came to power, instead of spreading progressive thought, attempts to divide people are being made through movies, Aurangzeb and more. I wish everyone is safe after the violence…”

Nagpur Riots Today LIVE: On Nagpur violence, Shiv Sena UBT leader Aaditya Thackeray said, as quoted by ANI, "The BJP is shameless about this because this incident has happened in the hometown of the Chief Minister of Maharashtra. Sadly, when the BJP cannot govern, they resort to violence, riots and this is their set formula in every state. If you look at Manipur, that is exactly what they want to convert Maharashtra to...They are trying to dig up the history of someone who lived 300-400 years ago, but they cannot speak about the future. They cannot speak about the present. The irony is that the grave is protected by the central government..."

Nagpur Riots Today LIVE: A day after the Nagpur violence, Congress leader Nana Patole on Tuesday hot out at Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, calling it the failure of the government and the police.

Speaking to reporters, as quoted by ANI, Nana Patole said, "If the Chief Minister and Home Minister of the state call this incident pre-planned, then it is clear that it is the failure of the government and the police. He (Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavi) himself is from Nagpur; if this incident is happening there, then it is the failure of the government... They don't believe in Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj; their only aim is to destroy Maharashtra...The government was involved in the incident in Nagpur ..."