Violent clashes broke out in Nagpur’s Mahal area on Monday night, where a mob of nearly 1,000 people engaged in stone-pelting, vandalism, and arson, injuring several police personnel and damaging multiple vehicles and homes. Following the unrest, authorities imposed a curfew in multiple areas of Nagpur city under Section 163 of the Bhartiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS) to maintain law and order.
VHP Blames Planned Attack for the Violence
Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) member Rajkumar Sharma alleged that the violence was pre-planned and blamed it on “Aurangzeb ki aulad”, claiming that certain groups deliberately escalated tensions following a protest over the removal of a grave.
Speaking to media, Sharma stated:
“Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) and Bajrang Dal announced earlier that they will hold a protest…The protest was over the removal of the grave…There was a grave on which a green cloth was kept, if something is written on it in Urdu, how will one understand, many people don’t understand Marathi even after living in Maharashtra…Usually, a green cloth is kept on the grave… When it was burnt, when it was broken, they unnecessarily made an issue out of it…The issue was discussed with the police administration. People from the Muslim community also understood it.”
#WATCH | Nagpur, Maharashtra | Rajkumar Sharma, a Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) member, says, "Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) and Bajrang Dal announced earlier that they will hold a protest…The protest was over the removal of the grave…There was a grave on which a green cloth was… pic.twitter.com/SjY3silhhD
— ANI (@ANI) March 18, 2025
He further alleged that the riots were planned, accusing certain groups of gathering at a mosque, closing shops, looting Hindu businesses, and attacking Hindu homes.
“But whatever riots happened after that was planned by the ‘Aurangzeb ki aulad’…They gathered in the mosque there; they planned to close their shops, loot the shops of Hindus and attack their houses. This was all planned, and an attempt was made to incite an issue which has no meaning… If the administration feels that the effigy of Aurangzeb was burnt, we have no objection to the administration’s action…this country will run as per the Constitution…But these ‘Aurangzeb ki aulad’ should also understand that this country will run as per the Constitution… If they will get out on the streets, vandalize our homes, burn the vehicles, and destroy the temple, then why is no action being taken against them? Then the Hindu society must react to this by getting down on the streets…”
VHP Leader Calls for Government Action
VHP leader Vinod Bansal also alleged a conspiracy, stating:
“Violence was spread as part of a pre-planned conspiracy. We are confident that the Maharashtra government is taking action against those who were involved.”
Curfew Imposed in Nagpur
According to an official Maharashtra police notification, the curfew will remain in effect until further notice. Nagpur Police Commissioner Ravinder Kumar Singal stated that the tensions began on March 17, when around 200 to 250 members of the VHP and Bajrang Dal gathered near the Shivaji Maharaj statue in Mahal, Nagpur, demanding the removal of Aurangzeb’s grave. The protesters also raised slogans and displayed a symbolic green cloth filled with cow dung cakes.
The situation remains tense, with authorities closely monitoring developments to prevent further escalation.