Nagpur witnessed intense unrest on Monday as tensions flared in the city’s central areas following rumors of the burning of the holy book of the Muslim community. The violence erupted during an agitation by a right-wing outfit demanding the removal of Aurangzeb’s tomb. Four people were reportedly injured as mobs hurled stones at police, forcing authorities to resort to tear gas shelling and baton charges to disperse the crowd.
According to officials, violence first broke out in Chitnis Park and Mahal areas, before spreading to Kotwali and Ganeshpeth in the late afternoon. Preliminary reports indicate that the Chitnis Park to Shukrawari Talao road belt was the worst affected, with rioters setting four-wheelers ablaze and pelting stones at residential homes.
With mobs reportedly numbering in the thousands, police struggled to bring the situation under control. Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, who also holds the Home portfolio, assured residents that law enforcement was actively managing the crisis.
“Police are handling the situation following the stone-pelting incidents in Mahal. I urge citizens to remain calm and cooperate with the administration,” Fadnavis stated. He added that Nagpur has a long-standing tradition of communal harmony and urged people not to fall for rumors.
The disturbance began in the late afternoon when members of Bajrang Dal staged a demonstration near the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj statue in Mahal. Reports suggest that misinformation regarding the alleged burning of the Quran spread rapidly through social media, inciting anger among members of the Muslim community.
A formal complaint regarding the alleged incident was filed at Ganeshpeth police station, prompting large gatherings of protestors across various city areas, including Mahal, Kotwali, Ganeshpeth and Chitnis Park. Authorities, anticipating potential violence, deployed additional police forces and ramped up patrolling efforts.
Officials confirmed that police personnel faced stone-pelting attacks in several areas, prompting retaliatory action with tear gas and baton charges to control the rioters. Bajrang Dal representatives, however, denied the allegations, asserting that their protest involved only the symbolic burning of an effigy of Aurangzeb.
Union Minister Nitin Gadkari also released a video urging the citizens to maintain peace and not pay heed to rumours. “Do not come out onto the streets. Cooperate with the law and order system. Preserve the tradition of peace and harmony that Nagpur is known for. I assure you all that the government will take action against those who have committed mistakes or engaged in illegal activities,” Gadkari said.