A 38-year-old welder, Irfan Shafiq Ahmed Ansari, died on Saturday from injuries sustained during Monday night's riots in Nagpur, becoming the first fatality linked to the violence over demands to remove Mughal emperor Aurangzeb's tomb from Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar.
According to Times of India, Ansari, a resident of Bande Garib Nawaz Nagar, was caught in the crossfire while heading to Itwari station. His family has demanded murder charges against the rioters and financial compensation.
Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has assured strict action, including recovering the cost of property damage from those responsible. "A survey of damages will be conducted, and compensation will be disbursed within a week. The amount will be recovered from rioters. If they fail to pay, their properties will be seized and auctioned," Fadnavis said.
Authorities have arrested two men in connection with Ansari's assault. Meanwhile, Fadnavis suggested a possible link between the Nagpur riots and Malegaon, stating that international elements' involvement was being investigated, the TOI report added.
Police have also arrested Fahim Khan’s mentor, M Hamid Engineer, president of the Minorities Democratic Party, and journalist Mohd Shahzad for allegedly inciting violence. Engineer had reportedly flooded social media with inflammatory content and previously faced arrest in 2011 for his alleged role in Mominpura mob violence. Shahzad is accused of circulating a speech by Khan that went viral. Both have been charged with sedition and remanded in police custody for three days.
A special committee from the opposition Congress has accused the state government and police of a biased probe, alleging that certain groups affiliated with the ruling alliance were being shielded. The delegation was denied permission to visit the riot-hit areas and warned of legal action if they proceeded.
"If this was a conspiracy, as the CM claims, what was the law-and-order machinery doing? Either the CM must resign, or the governor should dismiss this government," Congress leader Manikrao Thakre said.
Despite the unrest, Fadnavis confirmed that Prime Minister Narendra Modi's scheduled visit to Nagpur for Gudi Padwa would proceed as planned.
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