A curfew has been enforced in various parts of Nagpur following unrest triggered by a demand to relocate the tomb of Mughal emperor Aurangzeb from Maharashtra. The tomb of the 17th-century emperor is located in Aurangabad, presently referred to as Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar district.
Nagpur police chief Ravinder Kumar Singal has released a notice under Section 163 of the Bhartiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita.
It mentions that the curfew is enforced in the regions of Kotwali, Ganeshpeth, Tehsil, Lakadganj, Pachpaoli, Shantinagar, Sakkardara, Nandanvan, Imamwada, Yashodharanagar, and Kapilnagar police stations. The limitations will continue until additional notice is given.
As per the notice from the police commissioner, followers of Vishwa Hindu Parishad and Bajrang Dal congregated yesterday near the statue of Shivaji Maharaj in Nagpur’s Mahal area to protest for the removal of Aurangzeb’s tomb from Maharashtra.
They chanted slogans and set fire to a picture of Aurangzeb and “a symbolic grave wrapped in green cloth (filled with grass),” the announcement stated.
Reports indicate that the fire of the green cloth sparked rumors, as numerous people assert that sacred verses were inscribed on it, resulting in heightened tensions in the region.
According to the notice, last evening, roughly 80 to 100 individuals from a specific community became aggressive. Rocks were hurled at police and multiple cars were ignited. Police employed light measures such as lathicharge and teargas. The situation is now under control.
As per a PTI report, four individuals have sustained injuries. Over a dozen police officers have also sustained injuries.
Union minister and three-time Nagpur MP Nitin Gadkari has urged for tranquility and requested individuals not to trust in rumors. “I promise you all that the government will act against those who have made errors or participated in unlawful activities. The Chief Minister has been made aware of this situation, so I urge everyone to disregard rumours,” he stated.
