Nagpur witnessed violent clashes on Monday, prompting the authorities to impose prohibitory orders across the city. The violence erupted in the Hansapuri area following unverified rumors that the Quran had been burnt during a protest by a right-wing group demanding the removal of Aurangzeb’s tomb. The chaos left at least nine people injured, including six civilians and three police officers. Law enforcement acted swiftly, arresting 15 individuals from the Mahal locality. Addressing the press, Nagpur Police Commissioner Dr. Ravinder Singal confirmed that Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita had been imposed to prevent further escalation. The violence began around 7:30 PM in Chitnis Park, with protesters pelting stones at the police. Officers had to deploy tear gas and resort to baton charges to disperse the rioters, but the unrest soon spread to Kotwali and Ganeshpeth areas.
As the night progressed, the situation worsened, with rioters setting fire to multiple vehicles and damaging properties. The Hansapuri area witnessed one of the worst incidents between 10:30 and 11:30 PM, where mobs vandalized houses, a clinic, and a shop. Residents described scenes of panic as masked individuals attacked their homes. Sharad Gupta, a local resident, reported that his four two-wheelers were torched and a neighbor’s shop was ransacked. Despite desperate calls for help, police reinforcement arrived nearly an hour later. Several families, fearing for their safety, locked their houses and moved to safer locations. A PTI journalist on the ground captured images of distraught citizens watching from their balconies as police patrols moved through the affected lanes. Another resident, Chandrakant Kawde, recounted how the mob destroyed decorations for the Ramnavami Shobha Yatra and hurled stones at houses.
Further reports from the locality revealed targeted acts of vandalism. A tea stall owner near Bandu Clinic shared how rioters ransacked both his stall and the clinic, damaging medical supplies and furniture. Another eyewitness, Vansh Kawle, said the attackers deliberately broke CCTV cameras and attempted to force entry into homes. Some residents acted quickly, using buckets of water to douse fires before the fire brigade arrived. In response to the escalating violence, a heavy police presence has been deployed in Hansapuri and other sensitive areas. Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and Union Minister Nitin Gadkari have urged residents to maintain peace and refrain from spreading misinformation that could further aggravate the situation.
