NEW DELHI: One of the accused in the Nagpur violence allegedly molested an on-duty woman police official, FIR registered at Ganeshpeth Police Station revealed.
According to the FIR, the accused touched the uniform and body, made obscene gestures, and misbehaved with the official of the RCP squad.
This comes days after a violence broke out between two groups in Maharashtra’s Nagpur over demands of removing Mughal emperor Aurangzeb’s tomb in Khultabad.
According to news agency PTI, the situation got heated in several areas of the city amid rumors that a holy book of Muslim community was burnt during an agitation by Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) and Bajrang Dal Shivaji Putla Square at Mahal Gate. Effigies of Aurangzeb & a religious chadar were also allegedly burnt during the protest.
This prompted a retaliation from another community, after 1,000 people engaged in large-scale stone-pelting, vandalism and arson injuring several police personnel and damaging multiple vehicles and homes.
Another local resident confirmed the destruction. “They vandalized shops. They set fire to 8-10 vehicles,” he said.
Meanwhile, Violence erupted in Nagpur’s Hansapuri area as unidentified individuals vandalised shops, torched vehicles, and pelted stones,
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.
According to officials, ‘misinformation’ played a major role in fuelling the violence.
More than 650 rioters were booked in a single FIR at Ganeshpeth police station with 57 sections under BNS. Police have also named 51 activists of a minority democratic party in the offence, said a police source.
Maharashtra chief minister Devendra Fadnavis had also warned that his government would take action if any attempt was made to glorify Aurangzeb in the state.
Earlier on Tuesday, Fadnavis, who holds home portfolio and hails from Nagpur, told the assembly, “There were protests in the morning and then there was peace. But in the evening, there was a pre-planned attack in which select homes and establishments were targeted. A trolley of stones was found. Weapons were also recovered.”
He spoke about the film ‘Chhaava’, which portrays the conflict between Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj & Aurangzeb. “I’m not blaming any film, but it has fanned sentiments among people and their anger against Aurangzeb is coming out. I appeal to all to maintain calm and respect religious spaces.”