Nagpur violence updates: 8 VHP, Bajrang Dal workers surrender, CM Fadnavis vows strict action | top 5 points

On Wednesday, curfew continued for the second consecutive day in 10 police station limits in Nagpur

On Wednesday, eight workers of the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) and Bajrang Dal surrendered to Kotwali police in connection with the recent clashes in Nagpur.

The Nagpur police had filed FIRs against office-bearers of both groups for allegedly hurting religious sentiments during their protest seeking the removal of Mughal emperor Aurangzeb’s tomb in Sambhajinagar (formerly Aurangabad).

The police took the workers into custody and presented them in court today.

Nagpur violence: Here are the latest developments

- On Wednesday, curfew continued for the second consecutive day in 10 police station limits in Nagpur, a day after authorities detained more than 50 people following violence sparked by protests against Aurangzeb’s tomb.

- At Ganeshpeth Police Station, an FIR has been filed under various sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023, along with other laws, including the Arms Act, Maharashtra Police Act, and the Prevention of Public Property Damage Act.

“The protest turned violent when the crowd began hurling stones and throwing petrol bombs at police officers. 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,” the FIR stated, according to a report by ANI.

An accused allegedly touched a woman constable inappropriately and tried to disrobe her during the violence, as per the FIR. The accused also made obscene gestures and misbehaved with some women police personnel.

- Fahim Khan, a leader of the Minority Democratic Party (MDP), has been arrested for allegedly organising a protest outside a Nagpur police station on Monday after VHP workers' agitation for the removal of Aurangzeb’s tomb, which triggered the 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.

-A day after saying that the violence was premeditated, Maharashtra chief minister Devendra Fadnavis vowed to take strict action against the miscreants who attacked the police personnel during the violent clashes in Nagpur. Fadnavis termed the attack on police a planned “conspiracy" and warned the culprits saying, “We will dig them out from their graves, but won’t spare those who attacked police in Nagpur."

- During a press meet, Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) spokesperson Sunil Ambekar condemned the recent Nagpur violence, emphasising that all forms of violence are harmful to society and describing Mughal emperor Aurangzeb as "irrelevant."

"Any type of violence is not good for the health of the society and I think police have taken cognisance of it and so they will get into the details," the RSS communication chief said in response to a question on the outfit's stance on the unrest.

Meanwhile, Shiv Sena (UBT) demanded that the central government remove Aurangzeb’s tomb in Maharashtra’s Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar from the list of protected monuments, arguing it would reduce communal tensions.

What led to the violence?

Rumours about a ‘chadar’ with holy inscriptions being burnt during protests led by VHP for the removal of Aurangzeb's tomb, located in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar district, was the prima facie trigger for violence that occurred on the night of March 17 (Monday), according to a PTI report.

More than 30 police personnel, including three DCP-rank officers, were injured when mobs went on a rampage, damaging vehicles, hurling petrol bombs and stones at police, and attacking houses.