Curfew Imposed in Nagpur After Violence erupts Over Aurangzeb tomb Protests

Nagpur is grappling wiht the aftermath of violent clashes that broke out on Monday, March 17, 2025, prompting authorities to impose a curfew in several parts of the city. The unrest was triggered by protests demanding the removal of Mughal emperor Aurangzeb’s tomb, escalating into vandalism, arson, and stone-pelting. As of tuesday,March 18,2025,over 50 people have been taken into custody in connection with the violence,and five First Details Reports (FIRs) have been registered.

Timeline of the Violence

The initial demonstration, organized by members of the Bajrang Dal near the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj statue in Mahal, occurred in the late afternoon. Tensions quickly escalated as rumors spread on social media alleging the burning of the Quran during the protest, sparking outrage within the Muslim community. A formal complaint was filed at the Ganeshpeth police station regarding the alleged desecration.

Violence peaked between 8:00 PM and 8:30 PM,necessitating intervention by security forces. The unrest then spread to Nagpur’s Hansapuri area, where unidentified individuals vandalized shops, torched vehicles, and hurled stones. A fresh clash erupted near Old Bhandara Road between 10:30 PM and 11:30 PM, resulting in a mob setting multiple vehicles ablaze and damaging houses and a clinic.

Government and Police Response

Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and union Minister Nitin Gadkari have both appealed for peace and harmony. Commissioner of Police Ravinder Kumar Singal confirmed that the situation is now peaceful but Section 144 has been enforced, advising people not to venture out unnecessarily. Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita has also been imposed, empowering magistrates to issue immediate preventive orders to maintain public order.

According to Singal, “The police have taken more than 50 persons into custody and registered five FIRs at various police stations in connection with the violence.”

Fadnavis addressed the state assembly, asserting that “attacks on police will not be tolerated, strict action will be taken.” He reported that 33 police personnel, including three Deputy Commissioners of Police (DCPs), were injured in the clashes.

Political Reactions and Allegations

maharashtra Minority Commission Chairman Pyare Khan described the violence as “very unfortunate,” attributing the unrest to “outsiders, not locals,” aiming to disrupt communal harmony. Maharashtra Congress chief Harshvardhan Sapkal criticized the state home department, calling the violence a failure of the administration, alleging that ministers had been “deliberately making provocative speeches” leading up to the unrest.

Congress MP Imran Masood directly blamed the government, stating, “The government is responsible for it. Unfortunately,the people are made to fight against each other under the protection of the government. The CM should take action against those who are behind it, irrespective of their religion. New stories are being fabricated based on the past.This is not in the contry’s favour.”

Leader of Opposition in the Maharashtra Legislative Council, Ambadas danve, also pointed fingers at Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and his government, alleging that the BJP was attempting to disrupt communal harmony in the state. “I am clearly stating that the Maharashtra government and state Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, who also holds the home department portfolio, are behind the Nagpur violence,” Danve said.

Congress MP Varsha Gaikwad urged the people of Maharashtra to maintain peace and claimed that “Some people are trying to disrupt the social harmony of the state,” and that politics was being influenced by religion.

Curfew Details and Affected Areas

the curfew encompasses the jurisdiction of several police stations including Kotwali,Ganeshpeth,Tehsil,Lakadganj,Pachpaoli,Shanti nagar,Sakkardara,Nandanvan,Imambada,yashodhara Nagar,and Kapil Nagar.

Inquiry and Future Steps

Nagpur guardian minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule claimed that social media was used to incite tensions, urging the opposition not to politicize the issue. Police are investigating the sequence of events and the potential involvement of organized groups in instigating the violence.

Chief Minister Fadnavis stated in the assembly that the clashes appeared to be “pre-planned” and acknowledged that the chhava movie had fueled public anger against Aurangzeb but urged everyone to ensure peace in Maharashtra. He further emphasized that “No one has permission to take law and order into their own hands.”

Curfew Imposed in Nagpur After Violence Erupts Over Aurangzeb Grave Removal Demand

Nagpur, Maharashtra – Tensions escalated in Nagpur on Monday, March 17, 2025, leading to widespread violence and the imposition of a curfew in several areas. The unrest followed protests demanding the removal of Aurangzeb’s grave, sparking clashes between different groups and resulting in property damage and injuries.

Initial Protests and Escalation

The initial trigger was a demonstration by members of the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) and Bajrang Dal near the Shivaji Maharaj statue in Mahal. Approximately 200-250 members gathered, raising slogans and displaying a green cloth with cow dung cakes in protest against Aurangzeb’s grave. According to an official Maharashtra Police notification, a subsequent gathering of 80-100 people in Bhaldarpura around 7:30 PM further escalated tensions, disrupting public order and movement.

Violence Erupts in Mahal and Hansapuri

The situation deteriorated rapidly, with violence erupting in the Mahal area. A mob of nearly 1,000 people engaged in “large-scale stone-pelting,vandalism,and arson,” according to Nagpur Police Commissioner Ravinder Singal. Several police personnel were injured, and multiple vehicles and homes were damaged. By evening, violence spread to Hansapuri, where “unidentified individuals vandalized shops, set vehicles on fire, and pelted stones,” as reported by news agency ANI. One eyewitness from Hansapuri described a chaotic scene, stating, “A team came here, their faces were hidden with scarves. They had sharp weapons, stickers, and bottles in their hands. They started the ruckus, vandalised shops, and pelted stones. They also torched vehicles.” A Fire brigade official also confirmed that “two JCBs were set on fire, along with several other vehicles being damaged,” and that “one fireman is injured.”

Police Response and Curfew Imposition

In response to the escalating violence, police imposed a curfew under Section 163 of the Bhartiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS) in several areas, including Kotwali, Ganeshpeth, Tehsil, Lakadganj, Pachpaoli, Shantinagar, Sakkardara, Nandanvan, Imamwada, Yashodharanagar, and Kapilnagar. Police Commissioner Ravinder Kumar Singal stated the curfew was enforced to “prevent further incidents and maintain peace,” and that the restrictions would remain in effect until further notice.authorities also enforced Section 144, advising people to avoid unnecessary movement.

The curfew order specified, “During the lockdown period, no person should go out of the house for any reason other than medical reasons, nor should more than five people gather inside it. Also, orders are passed to prohibit spreading any kind of rumour, prohibiting doing all such acts.” Violators face penalties under Section 223 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).

Political Reactions and Accusations

The violence has drawn strong reactions from political leaders across the spectrum. Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis urged citizens to cooperate with law enforcement and avoid spreading or believing rumors, emphasizing that “Police and the administration are handling the situation after stone-pelting and tensions in Mahal.”

Maharashtra Congress chief Harshvardhan Sapkal criticized the state home department,calling the violence a “failure” and alleging that ministers had been “deliberately making provocative speeches” recently. Congress MP Shyamkumar Barve condemned the violence and appealed for peace, stating, “The kind of attempt being made, a Hindu-Muslim clash has never happened in Nagpur. I want to appeal to both communities to maintain peace… an attempt is being made to divert attention from key issues through such incidents.”

AIMIM National Spokesperson Waris Pathan condemned the violence, urging the Maharashtra government to investigate the causes, adding, “There are certain people in BJP, who keep spreading hatred… we kept saying there should be action against such people… BJP is diverting attention by taking up an issue of 400-year-old Aurangzeb.”

Congress leader Pawan Khera held the BJP-led government responsible, questioning how such unrest could occur in a city with a long history of communal harmony. He stated, “Nagpur has a 300-year-old history, and no riot has ever happened here before. we should ask why such a situation has arisen.”

Maharashtra Minority Commission chairman Pyare Khan described the violence as “very unfortunate,” alleging that “The people involved in this violence are not from Nagpur. Some anti-social elements came from outside and created unrest.”

Current Situation

As of Monday evening, police Commissioner Ravinder Singal reassured residents that “the situation is now peaceful and under control.” Authorities are working to identify and arrest those involved in the violence. The curfew remains in effect, and residents are urged to comply with all restrictions to maintain peace and order.