Nagpur Police Arrest Alleged Mastermind Behind Monday’s Violence

Nagpur Police: The police in Nagpur arrested a Minorities Democratic Party (MDP) chief, 38-year-old Fahim Shamim Khan, on Wednesday in connection with the central Nagpur late-Monday-night violence, which reportedly he masterminded, said officials.

The buildings were set ablaze, stone-pelting attacks were made against police personnel, and the curfew was imposed by authorities due to the escalating violence.

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About two groups, one protesting against the demolition of Aurangzeb's tomb in Chhatrapati Sambhaji Nagar and the other led by the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) and Bajrang Dal, clashed in the line of violence from 8:30 to 9:00 pm on Monday in the Mahal area of old Nagpur.

Clashes left at least 10 anti-riot commandos, three IPS officers, two firemen, and several civilians injured. Mobs set two JCB machines and about 40 vehicles on fire, damaged police vans, and fought with security personnel.

Khan's arrest, who lives in Yashodhara Nagar, came soon after his name was included in a FIR registered at Ganeshpeth Police Station. The 18-page FIR named Khan as one of the prime accused. Earlier, police released his photograph and a video of him allegedly delivering an inflammatory speech just before the violence erupted.

A senior police officer said that preliminary investigations and video evidence suggest that the speech of Khan, who contested the 2024 Lok Sabha elections against Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)’s Nitin Gadkari and secured around 1,400 votes, had directly incited the violence. He has been remanded in police custody until March 21.

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The city police have registered five FIRs against 51 individuals. According to the FIR filed at Ganeshpeth Police Station, a man involved in the clashes molested a woman police officer while she was on duty. The FIR also mentions that the accused made obscene gestures and misbehaved with other women, including police personnel, during the riot. The unruly mob allegedly cornered the female officer and attempted to tear her clothes, but she managed to escape before they could further target her. Authorities have launched a manhunt to arrest those responsible for the molestation.

Nagpur Police Commissioner Ravinder Singhal on Wednesday visited the affected and confirmed that no further incidents had been reported since the imposition of the curfew.

Security continues to be very tight with around 2000 armed personnel including Quick Response Teams (QRT) and Riot Control Police (RCP) patrolling sensitive areas under the leadership of a deputy commissioner of police (DCP). Authorities are monitoring the situation and security forces are being vigilant for preventing any escalation of tensions within the city.

Meanwhile, large numbers of VHP supporters, including women, met in Mahal to announce a boycott of businesses run by Muslim fundamentalists and demand action against the rioters. Govind Shende, the newly appointed chief of the Vishva Hindu Parishad's Vidarbha region, has called for an inquiry to reveal the actual mastermind behind the violence, stating that such widespread riots can't take place without planning before hand.

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