Aurangzeb tomb row: Did rioters molest ladies police officer throughout Nagpur violence?

Nagpur witnessed an evening of chaos earlier this week as violent clashes erupted over the demand to demolish Mughal emperor Aurangzeb’s tomb

Amid the mayhem, a feminine police officer grew to become a sufferer of assault, with the police’s FIR stating that rioters tried to disrobe her. The report additionally mentions that the mob then made obscene gestures towards different feminine officers earlier than transferring forward.

The horrifying incident unfolded as safety forces struggled to regulate a mob of over 1,000 folks, who went on a rampage, pelting stones, vandalising outlets, and torching autos, making a scene of terror.

As tensions flared, authorities imposed an indefinite curfew in delicate areas, bringing life to a standstill. Right here’s an in depth have a look at the present scenario.

Girls officers assaulted by Nagpur rioters

Because the violence escalated in Nagpur, feminine cops who have been making an attempt to revive order grew to become prime targets for the enraged mob.

Based on an ANI report citing the FIR registered at Ganeshpeth Police Station, the accused not solely misbehaved with an officer but additionally touched her uniform and physique whereas making obscene gestures.

The officer was pinned down in a slim lane in Bhaldarpura by stone pelters, her uniform torn within the scuffle. Whereas the officer was groped, she managed to fend off a full-scale assault, The Occasions of India studies. One other officer of the RCP squad additionally confronted harassment in the course of the riots, it added.

ACP Anita Extra was additionally attacked with stones as she discovered herself cornered in a bylane, surrounded by violent rioters. A number of feminine officers are additionally reported to be injured by stone pelting.

Based on TOI, a single FIR at Ganeshpeth Police Station has booked over 650 rioters below numerous sections of the Bharatiya Nyay Sanhita, the Legal Regulation Modification Act, 1932, the Public Property Harm Prevention Act, 1984, the Maharashtra Police Act 1951, and different related legal guidelines.

Police sources confirmed that 51 activists from a minority democratic social gathering have been additionally named within the case.

The clashes left round 70 folks injured, with practically half of them being cops. Among the many injured have been 4 DCPs, one in every of whom was attacked with an axe by a 15-year-old boy.

Thus far, practically 60 to 65 rioters have been arrested, whereas one other 17 people have been detained, India In the present day reported.

What triggered the violent clashes?

The violence in Nagpur erupted after rumours unfold {that a} holy ebook belonging to the Muslim neighborhood had been burned throughout an agitation by Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) and Bajrang Dal at Shivaji Putla Sq. close to Mahal Gate.

Based on an official police order, round 200 to 250 members of those right-wing teams had gathered on March 17, demanding the removing of Aurangzeb’s tomb in Khultabad.

As per studies, the current launch of the movie Chhaava, which portrays Maratha king Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj’s execution by the hands of Aurangzeb, reportedly reignited anger in opposition to the Mughal ruler.

In the course of the protest, the mob allegedly burned effigies of Aurangzeb and a non secular chadar—an act that infected tensions with the opposing neighborhood.

By night, the scenario spiralled uncontrolled. Practically 1,000 folks took to the streets in retaliation, resorting to large-scale stone-pelting, vandalism, and arson. A number of autos, police autos, visitors management cubicles, and homes have been broken because the violence unfold, severely disrupting legislation and order.

VIDEO | Visuals from Nagpur the place violence erupted on Monday as stones have been hurled at police. Town noticed a number of incidents of stone-pelting and arson.

(Supply: Third Celebration)#NagpurViolence pic.twitter.com/sr37c1dxxE

— Press Belief of India (@PTI_News) March 17, 2025

An eyewitness from Hansapuri described the mayhem brought on by a masked group that stormed the realm.

“A group got here right here, their faces have been hidden with scarves. That they had sharp weapons, stickers, and bottles of their arms. They began the ruckus, vandalised outlets, and pelted stones. In addition they torched autos,” the eyewitness mentioned.

The scenario grew to become so unstable that authorities had no alternative however to impose an indefinite curfew in delicate areas. Restrictions have been positioned on motion and public gatherings to stop additional escalation.

Even 24 hours later, practically 30 per cent of Nagpur stays below curfew, with 1,000 police personnel, riot management squads, and the state reserve police power deployed throughout communally delicate zones.

Based on TOI, a further 8,000 cops have been positioned on standby because the scenario in Mahal and Hansapuri stays tense.

How have officers reacted?

Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, who additionally holds the Dwelling portfolio, has urged folks to stay calm and keep away from falling for rumours.

“Everyone ought to keep peace. The administration is taking all vital measures,” he mentioned, interesting for restraint amid the escalating tensions.

Union Minister Nitin Gadkari, who represents Nagpur in Parliament, additionally known as for peace in a video message posted on X. He acknowledged that spiritual tensions had flared up as a consequence of sure rumours.

“I guarantee you all that the federal government will take motion in opposition to those that have dedicated errors or engaged in unlawful actions. The chief minister has already been knowledgeable about this example, so I request everybody not to concentrate to rumours,” Gadkari said.

Maharashtra Minority Fee Chairman Pyare Khan condemned the violence, calling it an “unlucky” incident. He claimed that these accountable weren’t locals however outsiders who got here to incite unrest.

“The folks concerned on this violence usually are not from Nagpur. Some anti-social components got here from outdoors and created unrest,” he claimed.

Nonetheless, the opposition has strongly criticised the state authorities, questioning the collapse of legislation and order.

Shiv Sena (Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray) chief Aditya Thackeray known as it a failure of the state equipment in Fadnavis’s personal hometown.

“The legislation and order of the state has collapsed like by no means earlier than. Nagpur, the house metropolis of the CM and residential minister, is going through this,” he wrote on X.

Congress chief Pawan Khera additionally weighed in, declaring that Nagpur, a 300-year-old metropolis, had by no means witnessed such communal violence earlier than.

“Riot broke out within the Mahal space of Nagpur, the hometown of Maharashtra Chief Minister. In these 300 years of historical past, no riot has occurred in Nagpur. We must always all ask why such a scenario fashioned. BJP is in energy in each the Centre and State. If VHP and Bajrang Dal organised a protest demanding the removing of the tomb of Aurangzeb, did the Authorities make no preparations to take care of legislation and order?” Khera questioned.

With enter from businesses