Curfew has been imposed in 10 police station limits in Nagpur after violent clashes over protests related to the demolition of Mughal emperor Aurangzeb&rsquo;s grave in Sambhajinagar, officials said on Tuesday. Police have detained 50 people so far as tensions remain high.
The affected areas include Kotwali, Ganeshpeth, Lakadganj, Pachpaoli, Shantinagar, Sakkardara, Nandanvan, Imamwada, Yashodhara Nagar, and Kapil Nagar. A large contingent of police, State Reserve Police Force (SRPF), and Rapid Action Force (RAF) personnel have been deployed to maintain order.
Nagpur Police Commissioner Dr. Ravinder Kumar Singhal said the curfew, which has been in place since midnight, will remain until further notice. &ldquo;We are taking strict action against those involved in arson and violence. The situation is currently under control,&rdquo;&nbsp;he said.
However, <a href="https://x.com/BenefitNews24/status/1901842196623704363/video/2">a video surfaced on social media </a>showing unrest hours after the curfew was put into effect.
Violence initially erupted on Sunday evening. A protest outside the District Collector&rsquo;s office&nbsp;initially ended peacefully. However, by 7&ndash;7.30 pm, clashes broke out between two groups near Shivaji Chowk, leading to stone pelting, arson, and attacks on police and fire brigade personnel. Deputy Commissioner of Police Niketan Kadam was injured in the violence, reportedly struck with an axe.
Police sources said rioters set multiple vehicles on fire and pelted stones at security forces. Officers responded with tear gas to disperse the crowd. By Monday, authorities launched a massive crackdown, detaining 50 individuals and conducting combing operations to identify those responsible.
Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, who also serves as Home Minister, has warned of strict action against the perpetrators. &ldquo;If anyone is attacking the police, it will be taken very seriously. I urge everyone to maintain peace and not believe in rumours,&rdquo; he said.
Union Minister Nitin Gadkari and Congress leader Vijay Wadettiwar have also called for calm. However, political tensions escalated, with Wadettiwar blaming the unrest on &ldquo;irresponsible statements&rdquo;&nbsp;from ruling party ministers, while BJP MLA Praveen Datke alleged that &ldquo;outsiders&rdquo;&nbsp;were responsible for the violence.
Authorities have ramped up cyber monitoring to curb misinformation and urged citizens to refrain from spreading unverified claims. &ldquo;Law and order will be maintained,&rdquo; a senior police officer said.
(With agency input)

A large contingent of police, SRPF and RAF personnel have been deployed

50 detained as police tighten security after stone pelting, arson erupt over Aurangzeb tomb row

Nagpur Clashes: Curfew in 10 Areas After Violence

50 detained as police tighten security after stone pelting, arson erupt over Aurangzeb tomb row

March 18, 2025 | 09:34 IST