The Nagpur city police have formed 18 Special Investigation Teams (SITs) to track down and arrest those involved in the riots that took place on Monday. So far, the police have identified 200 people and are actively working to identify another 1,000 suspects. These accused were captured in CCTV footage during the riots. As of Wednesday, the police have arrested 19 more rioters taking the total number of arrests to 69. The police have filed four First Information Reports (FIRs) at the Ganeshpeth and Kotwali police stations on Monday in which 200 culprits have been named. Now, the cops are using the CCTV footage to identify more culprits who were involved in the riots. A police official stated that the special teams include personnel from the Ganeshpeth, Kotwali, and Tehsil police stations, along with the Crime Branch.

 

The teams are also working closely with the Cyber Cell to help identify the suspects. Among those identified as the main culprits is Fahim Khan Shamim Khan (38), a resident of Sanjay Bag Colony in Yashodhara Nagar. Khan is the President of the Nagpur unit of the Minorities Democratic Party (MDP). Police records show that Khan has been involved in multiple cases, including electricity theft and a protest in 2023-2024. Interestingly, Khan was one of those who lodged a complaint with the police and accused VHP and Bajrang Dal activists of offending religious sentiments by burning a ‘chadar’ with verses from the Quran during the riots. On Wednesday, the police arrested 11 people from Chitnis Park and Bhaldarpura areas on charges related to the riots.

 

 

 In another development, eight members of the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) and Bajrang Dal surrendered to the police on Wednesday in connection with an FIR registered at the Kotwali police station. The case accuses them of hurting religious sentiments. The accused were presented in court, where they were granted bail. The accused have been identified as Amol Laxman Thakre (43), Mantri, VHP, Nagpur city; Lakhan Shankar Kuril (32), Goraksha Pramukh, Vidarbha Prant; Mukesh Wamanrao Barapatre (44), President of Central Nagpur, VHP; Rishabh Arkhel, Co-convenor of Bajrang Dal, Vidarbha; Shubham Rajesh Arkhel (30), Co-convenor of Bajrang Dal, Nagpur City; Sushil Chaurasiya, VHP worker; Dr Ramacharan Dindayal Dubey (56); and Kamal Haryani (42), Convenor of Bajrang Dal, Nagpur City. The accused surrendered at the Kotwali police station during the afternoon hours. Later, the police produced them in court, and the court released them on bail.

 

 

Commissioner of Police (CP) Dr Ravinder Kumar Singal, held a meeting with senior police officials on Wednesday to assess the situation. It was reported that some members of different communities attempted to gather in the Hansapuri and Bhaldarpura areas during the night. However, the strong police presence prevented any large gatherings from taking place. After evaluating the situation, the Police Commissioner decided to extend the curfew in sensitive areas on Thursday. As a result, market areas in Central Nagpur remained closed for the second consecutive day on Wednesday. Police sources also revealed that they have activated their informants in sensitive areas to gather more information about those involved in the riots. Additionally, police patrolling has been intensified during the night to ensure the safety of residents and prevent further disturbances. 

 

 

Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Wednesday said contrary to rumours, no ‘chadar’ with verses from Quran was burnt during the protest in Nagpur city, and vowed to ‘dig out from their graves’ those who attacked police during the subsequent violence. Fadnavis was replying to a debate on the budgetary demands of the Home Department in the Legislative Assembly on Wednesday. Rioters allegedly misbehaved with a woman constable and tried to disrobe her during the violence on Monday night. Mobs hurled stones and petrol bombs, injuring 33 police personnel, including three Deputy Commissioners of Police-rank officers. The violence had been planned to disturb social harmony, claimed Fadnavis.

 

“Whatever happened two days ago was a planned incident by a few people. I am not blaming any community. We did not find any ‘Ayat’ (Quranic verse) on the cloth that was burnt,” said Fadnavis. Rumours about a ‘chadar’ with Quranic verses being burnt during a protest led by the Vishwa Hindu Parishad demanding removal of Mughal emperor Aurangzeb’s tomb located in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar district triggered Monday’s violence, as per the preliminary probe. ‘We have verified this from all angles by magnifying videos and pictures of the protest,” Fadnavis further said, Some people deliberately forwarded messages containing the false rumour to incite communal disturbance, Fadnavis alleged. Attacks on police personnel were unpardonable, the Chief Minister made it clear. “Such people will be given the strictest possible punishment.

 

Those who have attacked police in Nagpur will be dug out from their graves. We will not spare them,” Fadnavis said. Clarifying his stand over the incident where he had claimed that the attack was planned but Commissioner of Police made a statement with caution, Fadnavis said, “The Nagpur Police Commissioner said the investigation would decide whether the violence was pre-planned. I haven’t said anything contradictory.” “No riot occurred in the city after 1992. The violence was planned by some people. Only a replica of Aurangzeb’s grave was burnt (during the VHP’s protest). We have verified that no Ayat (verses from the Quran) was burnt. But rumours were spread deliberately,” Fadnavis pointed out.

 

Those who intentionally circulated such rumours to disturb social harmony will be dealt with sternly, Fadnavis stressed. Opposition alleges Intelligence failure The Opposition parties on Wednesday questioned the Maharashtra Government over the law and order situation in the State, and said it could not prevent the violence in Nagpur due to its Intelligence failure. The Opposition slammed the ruling Mahayuti dispensation over the violence. Nagpur city witnessed violence on Monday night as stones were hurled at police amid rumours that the holy book of a community was burnt during a Vishwa Hindu Parishad’s agitation seeking the removal of Aurangzeb’s tomb located in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar district. Speaking in the Legislative Assembly, Leader of Opposition Vijay Wadettiwar attacked the State Government on Intelligence. Earlier, BJP MLA Pravin Datke, who represents the Nagpur Central Assembly constituency, said through a point of information in the House that women constables were molested during the violence.