Nagpur: A man who sustained injuries during the violence in Nagpur on March 17, triggered by tensions over Mughal emperor Aurangzeb’s tomb, has died while undergoing treatment. The deceased, identified as Irfan Ansari, was receiving medical care at Mayo Hospital in Nagpur, according to News18 report.
Meanwhile, the police have intensified their crackdown on those involved in the unrest, arresting 14 more individuals, including 10 juveniles. With these fresh arrests, the total number of people taken into custody in connection with the violence has risen to 105. In addition, three more FIRs have been registered as investigations continue.
The violence erupted on March 17 following rumours that a chadar with holy inscriptions was burned during protests led by the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP), which was demanding the removal of Aurangzeb’s tomb in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar district. The unrest saw large-scale stone pelting and incidents of arson in multiple parts of Nagpur, leading to severe law-and-order concerns.
Nagpur Police Commissioner Ravinder Kumar Singhal confirmed the latest arrests, stating that authorities are working to restore order. He also mentioned that a decision regarding lifting the curfew in affected areas would be taken after a high-level review meeting. To assess the situation and coordinate further actions, Singhal convened a meeting at the Police Bhavan in Civil Lines.
33 Injured Including 3 Cops
The violence resulted in injuries to 33 police personnel, including three officers of Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) rank. Authorities have been particularly focused on apprehending key instigators of the riots. Among them is Fahim Khan, who has been booked for sedition.
Social Media Widely Used For Inciting Violence
Lohit Matani, DCP (Cyber), stated that Khan is facing charges under Section 152 of the newly implemented Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), which deals with acts that endanger India’s sovereignty and the spread of misinformation on social media.
He is accused of editing videos of the protest, circulating them online, and glorifying acts of violence, including stone pelting against law enforcement. As part of the investigation, authorities have seized Khan’s digital devices, and he remains a prime suspect in the case.
