Curfew imposed in Nagpur, 47 detained in aftermath of violence

NAGPUR, MUMBAI: Curfew has been imposed in multiple areas of Nagpur city under Section 163 of the Bhartiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS) following tensions over the demand to remove Aurangzeb’s grave, read an official Maharashtra police notification.

According to the official order issued by Nagpur Police Commissioner Ravinder Kumar Singal, the restrictions will remain in place until further notice. The curfew applies to police station limits in Kotwali, Ganeshpeth, Tehsil, Lakadganj, Pachpaoli, Shantinagar, Sakkardara, Nandanvan, Imamwada, Yashodharanagar, and Kapilnagar.

#WATCH | Maharashtra: Visuals from the Mahal area of Nagpur, where a clash took place last night following a dispute between two groups. pic.twitter.com/N2GszenlwG

— ANI (@ANI) March 18, 2025

As stated in the order, on March 17, around 200 to 250 members of the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) and Bajrang Dal gathered near the Shivaji Maharaj statue in Mahal, Nagpur, to support removing Aurangzeb’s grave. The protesters raised slogans demanding the grave’s removal and displayed a symbolic green cloth filled with cow dung cakes.

#WATCH | Maharashtra: Efforts underway to douse fire in vehicles that have been torched in Mahal area of ​​Nagpur.

Tensions have broken out here following a dispute between two groups. pic.twitter.com/rRheKdpGh4

— ANI (@ANI) March 17, 2025

Later, at 7.30 pm, around 80 to 100 people reportedly gathered in Bhaldarpura, creating tension and disrupting law and order. The order notes that the gathering caused distress to the public and affected the movement of people on the roads.
The order stated that the police have imposed a “communication ban (curfew)” in affected areas under Section 163 to prevent further incidents and maintain peace.

“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,” the order read.

The police have been authorised to close roads in affected areas to maintain law and order. Anyone violating the curfew “remains punishable under Section 223 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS)”. However, the order clarifies that it “will not be applicable to police officers/employees on duty as well as government/administrative officers/employees, students appearing for essential services, and persons related to the fire brigade and various departments.”

#WATCH | Nagpur, Maharashtra: An eyewitness and local from Hansapuri area says, ” A team came here, their faces were hidden with scarfs. They had sharp weapons, stickers and bottles in their hands. They started the ruckus, vandalised shops and pelted stones. They also torched… https://t.co/dulJLlh1kV pic.twitter.com/QYDClkXVS9

— ANI (@ANI) March 17, 2025

Violence erupted in Nagpur’s Hansapuri area as unidentified individuals vandalized shops, torched vehicles and pelted stones, following an earlier clash between two groups in the Mahal area that had already heightened tensions in the city, according to reports.

An eyewitness from Hansapuri described the chaos caused by a masked group. “A team came here, their faces were hidden with scarves. They had sharp weapons, stickers, and bottles in their hands. They started the ruckus, vandalized shops, and pelted stones. They also torched vehicles,” the eyewitness said. Another local resident confirmed the destruction. “They vandalized shops… they set fire to 8-10 vehicles,” he said.

#WATCH | Maharashtra | A local shopkeeper from Nagpur’s violence-hit Hansapuri area says, “At 10.30 pm, I closed my shop. Suddenly, I saw people torching vehicles. When I tried to douse the fire, I was hit with a stone. My two vehicles and a few other vehicles parked nearby were… pic.twitter.com/tisqTd87d2

— ANI (@ANI) March 18, 2025

Earlier, Nagpur Police Commissioner Ravinder Singal assured residents that the situation was now under control. “The situation is peaceful right now. A photo was burned, following which people gathered. We requested them to disperse, and we even took action in this regard. They had even come to my office to meet me. They were told that an FIR had been lodged based on the names they mentioned, and action would be taken against them,” he said.

He further explained the timeline of the unrest. “This incident occurred around 8-8.30 pm. Not many vehicles have been torched. We are assessing the damage. Two vehicles have been torched, and stone pelting has occurred. Police are conducting combing operations, and those involved are being identified and arrested. We have imposed Section 144, and everyone has been instructed not to step out unnecessarily or take the law into their own hands. Do not believe in rumours. Except for this area, the entire city is peaceful”, he added. (ANI)

#WATCH | Mumbai | On Nagpur violence, Maharashtra MoS Home Yogesh Kadam says, “The reason behind the violence has not been found yet. 47 people have been detained so far. 12-14 police personnel were injured in the incident. 2-3 civilians also received injuries. We will find the… pic.twitter.com/Kkp9a2gpjT

— ANI (@ANI) March 18, 2025

In Mumbai, Maharashtra Junior Minister for Home (Urban) Yogesh Kadam on Tuesday morning said that the police had detained 47 people in the aftermath of the violence that took place in Nagpur amid the demands for the removal of Aurangzeb’s tomb.

He said that nearly 12 to 14 police personnel have suffered injuries, while two to three civilians have also been injured. He added that the reason behind the violence has not been found yet, but the same was being investigated.

“The reason behind the violence has not been found yet. So far, 47 people have been detained and 12-14 police personnel were injured in the incident. Some of them are suffering from ligament tear. Two to three civilians also received injuries”, Kadam told reporters.

The minister said that the entire issue was resolved yesterday afternoon when the police registered FIRs. Kadam added that strict action would be taken against the group that came out and carried out vandalisation hours after the earlier matter was resolved.

“We will find the reason behind the incident. The entire matter was resolved in the afternoon after the police station registered the FIRs. However, after five to six hours of gap, a group took to vandalism. Stringent action will be taken on those who took the law into their hands,” he added.

Meanwhile, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP Kamaljeet Sehrawat on Tuesday morning called for the country’s people to “stay together in harmony.” She said that the public must understand facts and not pay heed to rumours. “There are some people in the country who take advantage. I appeal to the public to understand the facts and not pay attention to rumours and to stay together harmoniously”, Sehrawat said.

#WATCH | Maharashtra | Nagpur violence | BJP MLA (Nagpur Central) Pravin Datke says, “I have reached here this early morning. This entire thing was preplanned. After an agitation yesterday morning, an incident took place at Ganesh Peth police station, then everything was… pic.twitter.com/pnhEGomViZ

— ANI (@ANI) March 18, 2025

BJP MLA Pravin Datke reached the violence-hit area of Hansapuri this morning and asserted that this incident was “pre-planned”. He said that the vandalisation of shops and stalls and the destruction of cameras were indicative of the same.

“This is all a pre-planned matter. If there were two shops each of Muslims and Hindus, only the latter was affected. There’s a (roadside) stall that belongs to a Muslim. Nothing happened to it. However, another stall that belonged to an elderly lady was damaged. The cameras were destroyed. It indicates that this thing was planned”, Datke said.

Questioning the delay, the BJP MLA slammed the police administration for not standing with the citizens. Datke suspected that a large part of the mob came outside (from the other neighbourhoods).

“I have to say that the Police were not standing with the Hindu citizens here. I don’t know the reason behind it. A large part of the mob came from the outside…If the Police don’t take action, the Hindus will be forced to take the next step. This is all I want to say”, the MLA from Nagpur Central said. (ANI)