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Nagpur violence mastermind, Faheem Khan, of Minorities Democratic Party, has been arrested and sent to police custody till March 21.
Faheem Khan, of Minorities Democratic Party, who has been accused of inciting violence in Maharashtra's Nagpur has been arrested and sent to police custody till March 21. The photo of Nagpur violence mastermind, Faheem Khan was released by the police earlier today.
Curfew is still in place for the second consecutive day in 10 police station limits of Nagpur following violent clashes that erupted on March 17. An FIR has also been lodged under the multiple sections from the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023 along with other laws such as the Arms Act, Maharashtra Police Act, and Prevention of Public Property Damage Act at the Ganeshpath Police Station.
The complaint has been filed by Police Inspector Jitendra Baburao Gadge and the FIR names 51 individuals, including several minors. The accused are primarily from Nagpur city, residing in areas like Jafar Nagar, Tajbagh, Mominpura, and Bhalaadapura.
According to the FIR, "The protest turned violent when the crowd began hurling stones and throwing petrol bombs at police officers. Police were reportedly attacked with deadly weapons like axes and iron rods. The crowd, despite repeated warnings from the police to disperse, continued to engage in violent actions, threatening the safety of both police personnel and civilians."
As per the FIR, "During the violence in Nagpur, one of the accused took advantage of the darkness and touched the uniform and body of a woman police officer of the RCP squad on duty to remove her clothes. The accused also made obscene gestures and misbehaved with some women police personnel. This has been revealed in the FIR lodged at Ganeshpeth Police Station in Nagpur."
According to sources, the violence was ignited by unverified reports that right-wing activists had set fire to effigies of Aurangzeb and a religious ‘chadar’ near Shivaji Putla Square at Mahal Gate. As the rumors spread like wildfire, enraged groups from another community gathered in large numbers, demanding immediate action against the alleged perpetrators.
The protests quickly spiraled out of control, with agitators resorting to stone-pelting and damaging public and private property. Riot Control Police confronted the swelling crowds at Chitnis Park Chowk, but the situation turned volatile as the protesters retaliated, unleashing a barrage of stones and further escalating tensions.
In the ensuing mayhem, Deputy Commissioners of Police Archit Chandak (Traffic) and Niketan Kadam (Zone 5) sustained injuries while attempting to pacify the violent mobs. Even fire department personnel, struggling to extinguish blazing vehicles, found themselves caught in the crossfire.
Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and Union Minister Nitin Gadkari issued urgent appeals for restraint as violence escalated. “Nagpur has always been a peaceful city where people coexist in harmony. I urge citizens not to believe in rumors and cooperate with law enforcement,” Fadnavis said, emphasizing that he was closely monitoring the situation.
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