Nagpur Violence: Residents Recall Homes, Vehicles, and Clinic Set Ablaze

Nagpur saw violent confrontations on Monday evening, and several houses, cars, and a clinic were vandalized. The violence broke out after reports that a religious book was burnt during an agitation by a right-wing organization protesting the presence of Mughal emperor Aurangzeb’s tomb.

Mob Violence Breaks Out in Central Nagpur

The skirmishes started at approximately 7:30 PM in the city center of Nagpur, where police officers were attacked with stones by a mob and six civilians and three police personnel were injured. Late at night, another outburst of violence occurred in Hansapuri area close to Old Bhandara Road. Rioters, as per eyewitness accounts, torched a number of vehicles, set houses on fire, and broke into a clinic.

Authorities reported that the road belt between Chitnis Park and Shukrawari Talao was one of the worst-hit, with rioters setting afire several four-wheelers and stoning residential apartments.

People Describe the Horror

Describing the horror to PTI, people from the Old Hislop College locality close to Chitnis Park narrated how a mob invaded their area, vandalizing automobiles and stoning houses.

“They hurled stones at our houses, set fire to cars, and smashed water coolers and windows before leaving,” a resident said.

Hansapuri resident Sharad Gupta (50) said four of his two-wheelers were set on fire outside his residence. He also received injuries during the attack.

“The mob entered between 10:30 PM and 11:30 PM, hurling stones and burning vehicles,” said Gupta, saying the police showed up an hour later.

Shops, Clinics Vandalized

A tea vendor outside a clinic in the vicinity reported that protesters ransacked the medical building, shattering tables and burning medicines. “They looted everything inside the clinic and at my tea vendor stall too,” he stated.

Vansh Kawle, another local resident, explained how the crowd, whose faces were masked, smashed CCTV cameras and tried to force entry into houses. “We extinguished the fire by throwing water from the ground floor before the fire service reached the spot,” he further said.

Authorities React, Curfew is Enforced

As a reaction to the riots, police enforced prohibitory orders in many parts of the city. Police have arrested 15 people after overnight combing operations.

Maharashtra Guardian Minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule will visit the violence-stricken Mahal area to gauge the situation. Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and Union Minister Nitin Gadkari have appealed for peace and communal harmony.

Situation Under Control

The situation in Nagpur is now under control, officials confirmed. But locals have demanded severe action against the perpetrators of violence