In a calibrated response, Nagpur City Police, on Thursday, lifted curfew under the jurisdiction of Nandanvan and Kapil Nagar police stations under Zone 5. The move followed inputs and subsequent analysis on part of police machinery that situation has eased in these parts and thus, there was no need for any further clampdown. The restrictions that came with curfew were relaxed from 2 pm onwards, providing relief to the citizens. Also, relaxation was provided in curfew for two hours on Thursday in the jurisdictions of Lakadganj, Pachpaoli, Shanti Nagar, Sakkardara, Imambada police stations.

 

These stations fall under Zone 3 of City Police and the same was done to enable citizens to stock on necessary items. Similarly, relief was also provided in jurisdiction of Yashodhara Nagar Police Station in Zone 5. Though the two hours relaxation from curfew from 2 to 4 pm on Thursday was provided, the shops remained closed as there was no advance information to businesspersons, said the locals. For citizens, who were confined to their homes, it was a welcome measure as they managed to step out of their houses and feel the air.

 

However, as the markets remained closed, citizens could not make much of the relaxation. City Police had imposed curfew under jurisdiction of 11 police stations post violence that erupted in Mahal area of Kotwali Police Station on March 17. As the people took to ransacking and damaging shops, the cops clamped down from wee hours of March 18. In the areas from where curfew was lifted people were slowly picking up the pieces. The entire chain of events was fast-paced and nobody had any inclination as to why restrictions got imposed as their area did not witness any violence. The markets, however, remained closed in Nandanvan, Mominpura, Mahal, Itwari, Gandhibagh areas of the city. Even the essential commodities stores that were open, the business was lacklustre as people were not venturing out of their homes in good numbers, said the traders.

 

 

After stumbling upon vital clue linking Fahim Khan -- the alleged mastermind of the March 17 arson in Mahal area, cops have invoked stringent provision relating to sedition. Fahim Khan, President, Nagpur Unit, Minorities Democratic Party (MDP), along with five others were booked under sec. 152 of BNSS. The six allegedly fanned tension by spreading misinformation relating to alleged defacement of verses of a religious book. Without bothering to verify, the youth in the community went on rampage, targeting shops, damaging vehicle and setting them afire. As cops tried to rein in the mob, they too came under attack, leaving scores of them injured, some of them sustaining serious injuries.

 

With violence abating, police are trying to piece together the events to pin down the culprits who fanned the tension. While going through the social media posts, the cyber experts found the alleged inflammatory posts of Khan and five others. The speeches were clearly trying to incite the people by painting a wrong picture of events that occurred earlier. Deputy Commissioner of Police Lohit Matani, while interacting with newspersons, said that, 50 persons have been booked and four fresh FIRs relating to arson and violence are registered at Cyber Police Station. A video of Fahim Khan, he is the main culprit in arson of March 17, has surfaced wherein his provocative comments are clearly heard. Khan, along with five others, was instrumental in coaxing community brethren that then spiralled out of control in Bhaldarpura and other adjoining area triggering the violence.

 

The police are scanning social media as they have stumbled upon posts that stoked violence by spreading rumours. DCP Lohit Matani said, the 37 persons were picked for posting objectionable posts that further fuelled the rumours causing flaring of violence by the people who got swayed by it. He said, the city police is keeping vigil on cyber space and any violations would be dealt with as per provisions of laid down laws.

 

Expressing regret over the violent incident in Nagpur on Monday night, the Congress has set up its committee to inspect riot-hit areas of city. The committee has been formed on the instructions of Maharashtra Pradesh Congress Committee President Harshvardhan Sapkal. The committee is expected to inspect the riot-hit areas of Nagpur city, discuss with locals and establish peace. The committee includes former President in-charge of Goa Manikrao Thakre, former MP Hussain Dalwai, former minister Dr Nitin Raut, Adv Yashomati Thakur, A Sajid Pathan. Nagpur City Congress Committee President MLA Vikas Thakre is the Convener and All India Congress Committee Secretary Praful Gudadhe Patil is the coordinator. This Congress committee will visit the riot-hit areas to inspect the situation and try to restore peace, informed Adv Ganesh Patil, State Vice President for Organisation and Administration.

 

 

 

The recent unrest in Nagpur is being investigated by the police, with media speculating that the controversy surrounding Aurangzeb could be a potential cause. The police are examining past incidents and local tensions to understand the situation better. Some community leaders have expressed doubts about this theory, urging a deeper investigation. State Minority Commission has taken the note of these incidents, Chairman of the Commission Pyare Khan said after a meeting with the police officials and urged the administration to find the culprit behind these incidents. Vishwa Hindu Parishad and Bajrang Dal demanded to remove the tomb of Aurangzeb at Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar.

 

After this, some anti-social elements protested by pelting stones, which started the unrest in the city. Nagpur has been tense for the past three days, many areas are under curfew. But this has made the unrest communal dividing citizens into two groups. Pyare Khan claimed that the unrest was not due to the Aurangzeb tomb protest. Now, why exactly the unrest started is being investigated by the police, he said. He also instructed the Police not to prosecute any innocent person who had no role in riots in city on March 17, in a meeting with police and district administration held at Police headquarters on Thursday. Dr Vipin Itankar, District Collector; Dr Ravinder Kumar Singal, Commissioner of Police; Chetan Dedhiya, Vice President of State Minority Commission; Wasim Burhan, Ahmed Deshmukh, Gulam Rasul Sheikh and others were present at the meeting. He informed Commission that a camp will be held at RTO office to compensate people whose vehicles had been damaged. Dr Singal also assured that the curfew imposed in various areas of the city will be lifted after the situation is brought under control.

 

 

 

The Muslim community has called for an impartial probe into the violence in city in aftermath of agitation leading to burning of effigy of Aurangzeb in Mahal area. Addressing mediapersons at Press Club on Thursday, the community members claimed that the burning of a green coloured cloth piece that had verses of Quran written on it is deplorable and action should be taken against Bajrang Dal members, said the community members on Thursday. Arif Kaji of Shiv Sena (UBT) group said the way violence was carried out it points to fact that all the acts were premeditated. The targeting of innocent Muslim youth is deplorable.

 

To a question, he and others also denied allegation of targeting of women police constables who were participating in combing operations after the arson. Two decades back, when Anees Ahmed and others represented Central Nagpur Assembly segment, Hindu and Muslim communities maintained cordial relations. All of a sudden, a communal colour is being allegedly given with an aim to paint the Muslims as perpetrators of violence, which is wrong, said Kaji and Adv Asif Qureshi while addressing the press conference. Rizwan Ansari, Javed Akhtar, Jamal Alazmazam, Faizal Tawlekal, Farooq Rehman Qureshi also were present.