Nagpur Riots: 33 Cops, 5 Civilians Injured as Protests Over Aurangzeb Tomb Flare

The police has maintained that the clashes in Nagpur's Mahal area were triggered by misonformation.

Violence in Nagpur Following Demonstrations For Removal of Aurangzeb's Tomb

(Photo: PTI)

At least thirty three policemen and five civilians were injured, and several vehicles and bulldozers were torched in violent clashes between two communities in Maharashtra's winter capital Nagpur on Monday, 17 March.

While the police claimed that the clashes were triggered by "misinformation", tensions were high in the city through the day following demonstrations led by Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) over Aurangzeb's tomb.

Earlier on Monday, tensions rose in the Mahal area of the city following claims of a chadar with holy inscriptions being burnt during protests led by Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) and Bajrang Dal.

The demonstrations in Nagpur were among many held across the state on Monday to demand for the removal of Mughal emperor Aurangzeb's tomb from Chhatrapati Sambhaji Nagar, a demand being fanned by several Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and ruling alliance leaders for the past few days, inclusing CM Devendra Fadnavis.

Bajrang Dal and VHP workers at a protest, demanding the removal of Mughal emperor Aurangzeb's tomb in Nagpur on Monday, 17 March.

(Photo: PTI)

How the Communal Violence Flared

Following the demonstrations by the VHP and Bajrang Dal, many from the Muslim community reached the spot to demand for arrest of those who allegedly burnt the chadar along with Aurangzeb's effigy during the protests. They also held demonstrations outside the Ganesh Peth police station later.

The clashes then flared at three locations around 7:00 pm after the claims went viral on social media.

Addressing the Maharashtra Assembly, CM Fadnavis, also the home minister of the state, maintained that the buring of the chadar with holy inscriptions was a rumour.

Visuals from the clashes in Nagpur on Monday.

(Photo: PTI)

"On 17 March 2025 at 11.30 am, VHP and Bajrang Dal members held demonstrations in the Mahal area to demand for the removal of Aurangzeb's tomb. While doing so, they burnt a grass effigy of Aurangzeb," Fadnavis said.

The Ganesh Peth police then filed an FIR against them under Section 299 (deliberate and malicious intention of outraging the religious feelings), 37(1) & 37 (3) (circumstances where there's no right of private defense) and Section 135 of the Maharashtra Police Act.

"A rumour spread in the evening that the effigy that was burnt had a cloth with religious scriptures on it," Fadnavis said.

Violence the erupted at three locations - Mahal, Bhaldarpura, and Hansapuri. At least 12 two wheelers, one crane, two bulldozders, and several cars were torched across these locations. Fadnavis also claimed that a trolley full of stones, along with other weapons, were retrieved from the location.

The 33 injured policemen include three Deputy Commissioner-level officers. One of them was also was attacked with an axe.

While five FIRs have been filed in two police stations, a curfew has been imposed in several areas of the city including Kotwali, Ganesh Peth, Tehsil, Lakadganj, Pachpavli, Shantinagar, Sakkardara, Nandanvan, Imamwada, Yashodharanagar, and Kapilnagar police station limits.

"I want to tell the House that bodody who attacked the police will be spared," Fadnavis said.

The police, too, has maintained that the clashes erupted following "misinformation."

Speaking to news agency ANI on Monday, Nagpur DCP Archit Chandak said: "This incident occurred due to some miscommunication. The situation is under control right now. Our force here is strong. I appeal to everyone to not step out or pelt stones. Stone pelting was taking place, so we displayed a show of force and also used tear gas. A few vehicles were set ablaze, we doused off the fire by calling Fire Brigade. A few Police personnel were injured, I too sustained a little injury in my leg during stone pelting."

The police combed the area following the clashes to identify people and has detained about 30-40 people so far, sources said.

Demonstrations Over Aurabgzeb's Tomb Across Maharashtra

Hindutva outfits led by VHP held demonstartions across the state on Monday, including Mumbai, Thane, Pune, Nagpur, Chhatrapati Sambhaji Nagar, and several other districts.

Following the call for the demonstrations, security was upped at Aurangzeb's tomb in Khudalgad town of Chhatrapati Sambhaji Nagar, formerly Aurangabad.

Security outside the Mughal emperor Aurangzeb's tomb, in Aurangabad, Maharashtra, Sunday, March 16, 2025.

(Photo: PTI)

The calls for the removal fo the tomb, however, gained momentum after Fadnavis last week backed MP Udayanraje Bhosale's demand to do so.

'Peace Must Be Restored': CM Fadnavis

Nagpur is the home turf of Fadnavis as well as Union Minister Nitin Gadkari, who have both appealed for peace amid backlash by the Opposition.

In a video message, Fadnavis on Monday said: "The tensions in Nagpur's Mahal area are condemnable. Stones were pelted at policemen. I am personally monitoring the situation. I have told the Police Commissioner that strict measures must be taken to restore peace. Those trigerring tensions must be acted upon."

"I appeal to all citizens of Nagpur that nobody should behave in a way that will hamper peace," he added.

Gadkari, in a video message, maintained that the clashes were triggered by rumours.