Authorities have imposed an indefinite curfew on parts of Nagpur following violent clashes triggered by a Hindu group’s call for the removal of the tomb of a 17th-century Mughal ruler, police said on Tuesday.
The unrest, which erupted on Monday in the central Indian city, left several people injured and caused extensive damage to vehicles.
Police confirmed that at least 15 officers were among the injured, with one reported to be in serious condition. A police officer, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the violence was sparked by growing tensions over the controversial tomb.
Devendra Fadnavis, chief minister of Maharashtra, the state where Nagpur is located, condemned the unrest in a video statement and urged authorities to restore calm. “I have told the police commissioner to take whatever strict steps are necessary,” Fadnavis added.
According to a police statement, members of the Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP) burnt an effigy of Emperor Aurangzeb and his tomb while chanting slogans demanding its removal from the nearby city of Aurangabad.
According to Reuters, the situation escalated further when, according to a police officer, several members of Muslim groups marched towards a police station and began pelting stones at security personnel.
A local resident told ANI news agency that the attackers, who concealed their identities with masks, carried sharp weapons and bottles.
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The VHP denied involvement in any violent activities. Its general secretary, Milind Parande, said in a video message that the group is calling for the tomb to be replaced with a memorial dedicated to rulers from the local Maratha community.
Nagpur also serves as the headquarters of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), the ideological parent organisation of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party. The VHP is affiliated with the same network of organisations.
Modi has frequently faced criticism from political opponents who accuse him of fostering discrimination against Muslims and failing to curb attacks targeting the community. Both the prime minister and his government have consistently rejected such allegations.
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