A curfew has been enforced in parts of Nagpur following violence sparked by calls to relocate the tomb of Mughal emperor Aurangzeb from Maharashtra. The 17th-century tomb is located in Aurangabad, now known as Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar district.
Nagpur Police announced on Tuesday, March 18, that more than 50 individuals had been taken into custody in connection with the violence that erupted on the night of March 17.
Authorities are also reviewing CCTV footage and social media posts to identify additional suspects linked to the unrest, which was sparked by rumours of a holy book being burned during a protest by a right-wing group calling for the removal of Aurangzeb’s tomb.
The clashes began in the Chitnis Park area of Mahal around 7:30 pm on March 17, with stones being thrown at the police, injuring six civilians and three officers. The unrest then spread to Kotwali and Ganeshpeth, escalating through the evening. Nearly 1,000 people were involved in large-scale stone-pelting, vandalism, and arson, damaging multiple vehicles and homes.
Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis and Union Minister Nitin Gadkari have both called for peace and harmony in the wake of the violence.
