A curfew has been imposed in several areas of Nagpur under Section 163 of the Bhartiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS) following escalating tensions regarding the demand to remove the grave of Mughal emperor Aurangzeb. The curfew, declared by Nagpur Police Commissioner Ravinder Kumar Singal, is expected to remain in place until further notice.
The curfew applies to police station limits in Kotwali, Ganeshpeth, Tehsil, Lakadganj, Pachpaoli, Shantinagar, Sakkardara, Nandanvan, Imamwada, Yashodharanagar, and Kapilnagar, as stated in the official order.
On March 17, a group of 200 to 250 members from the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) and Bajrang Dal gathered near the Shivaji Maharaj statue in Mahal, Nagpur, calling for the removal of Aurangzeb’s grave. The protesters raised slogans, held a symbolic green cloth with cow dung cakes, and demanded action on the grave.
Later, tensions escalated when 80 to 100 people gathered in Bhaldarpura around 7:30 pm, causing public distress and disrupting the flow of traffic. The order cited these incidents as reasons for the imposition of the curfew in affected areas.
The curfew, which limits movement in the affected areas, stipulates that people can only leave their homes for medical reasons, and gatherings of more than five people are prohibited. The spreading of rumors and any acts inciting violence are strictly banned. Those violating the curfew can face punishment under Section 223 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).
However, the curfew does not apply to police officers, government officials, students, and essential service workers.
In related developments, violence erupted in Nagpur’s Hansapuri area when unidentified individuals vandalized shops, set fire to vehicles, and pelted stones, following earlier clashes in the Mahal area. Eyewitnesses described masked groups armed with sharp weapons and bottles causing chaos.
Despite the violence, Police Commissioner Ravinder Singal assured the public that the situation was under control. He stated that the unrest occurred around 8-8:30 pm, with minimal property damage. Authorities are conducting combing operations and have identified individuals involved in the violence, with arrests underway.
Singal also emphasized that Section 144 has been imposed, instructing residents not to step out unnecessarily or take matters into their own hands. He reassured the public that the rest of the city remains peaceful.