Mugdha Das

Curfew imposed in Nagpur amid protests over Aurangzeb's grave

Digital Desk: A curfew has been imposed in several areas of Nagpur, Maharashtra, following unrest triggered by demands to remove Aurangzeb's grave. The curfew, imposed under Section 163 of the Bhartiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), will remain in effect until further notice, according to an official notification from Maharashtra police. Nagpur Police Commissioner Ravinder Kumar Singal issued an official order stating that the restrictions will remain in place until further notice.

The curfew covers police station limits in multiple areas. The protests were sparked by demands to remove Aurangzeb's grave, with around 200-250 members of the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) and Bajrang Dal gathering near the Shivaji Maharaj statue in Mahal, Nagpur.

Around 7:30 p.m., clashes occurred in the Chitnis Park area of Mahal, with stones thrown at police, injuring six people and three cops, according to PTI.

The unrest moved to Kotwali and Ganeshpeth later in the day, and it became more intense by dark. Nearly 1,000 people were involved in large-scale stone-throwing, vandalism, and arson, which damaged numerous automobiles and homes.

According to sources, the violence peaked between 8 and 8:30 p.m., leading security authorities to respond.

Following an earlier confrontation in Mahal that had heightened emotions, violence extended to Nagpur's Hansapuri neighborhood, where unidentified men vandalized shops, set fire to vehicles, and threw stones. Between 10.30 and 11.30 p.m., a new clash broke out near Old Bhandara Road, during which a crowd set fire to multiple vehicles and damaged residences and a clinic.

After the violence, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and Union Minister Nitin Gadkari encouraged people to maintain peace and togetherness. According to police, the incident erupted in the late afternoon when Bajrang Dal members staged a demonstration near the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj statue in Mahal.