On March 17, violence erupted in Nagpur following rumours that a religious text was burned during a protest by Hindu organizations demanding the removal of Aurangzeb’s tomb in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar. Within no time, Islamist mobs clashed with police, torched vehicles, and attacked houses, leaving over 30 people injured, including several police personnel. Amid the chaos, a woman police officer was reportedly molested and nearly disrobed by rioters in Bhhaladarpura.
Following its initial probe, Maharashtra Police later confirmed that no Islamic text was burned, refuting the claims of the Islamo-leftist cabal alleging that it was the reason that sparked the violence. The Maharashtra Cyber Cell also uncovered Bangladesh connection in the riots, identifying 97 social media accounts that spread false rumours and inflammatory content. Many of these posts were published from Bangladeshi IP addresses, with one post threatening that the riots were “just a small incident” and that “bigger riots” would follow.
Authorities have already taken action against 34 social media accounts, issuing 10 FIRs against individuals spreading communal unrest. More than 140 provocative posts and videos aimed at inciting violence have been flagged for removal. The cyber cell has also contacted Facebook to block a particular Bangladesh-based account that played a key role in spreading misinformation.
So far, 84 people have been arrested in connection with the violence, including Faheem Shamim Khan, the city president of the Minority Democratic Party (MDP) and the alleged mastermind behind the riots. Khan is accused of mobilizing over 500 rioters and delivering a provocative speech before the violence broke out. He was arrested within hours of an FIR being filed at Ganeshpeth Police Station, which also includes charges of conspiracy to rape, molestation, and misconduct.
Khan, a resident of Sanjay Bagh Colony in Yashodhara Nagar, had previously contested the 2024 Lok Sabha elections against Union Minister Nitin Gadkari from Nagpur. He has been remanded to police custody until March 21.
Addressing the state assembly on March 19, CM Fadnavis accused certain individuals of orchestrating the violence to disrupt communal harmony. He emphasized that extensive video analysis proved that no religious scripture was burned. Meanwhile, the police and cyber cell continue crackdowns on rumour-mongers, warning that such actions violate the law and pose a serious threat to peace and stability. Citizens have been urged to refrain from sharing unverified information that could escalate tensions.
