Violence in Nagpur after Aurangzeb tomb protest escalates

Sharad Gupta, a grocery store owner, recounted how he narrowly escaped an attack after witnessing cars being pushed out and set on fire. Residents expressed frustration over the police's delayed response, alleging they arrived only after the violence had ceased.

Several residents reported substantial damage, including broken CCTV cameras, vandalised homes, and burned vehicles.

Pravin Datke, a BJP MLA from Nagpur Central, suggested that the violence was premeditated and that external elements were involved, specifically targeting Hindu properties.

He criticised the police, asserting they failed to protect Hindu citizens during the unrest.

Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, also in charge of the Home department, condemned the violence, attributing it to a "premeditated conspiracy," and pledged to take decisive action against the perpetrators.

In the legislative assembly, he highlighted that the chaos left 33 police personnel injured, with attacks on high-ranking officials, including an assault involving an axe. His deputy, Eknath Shinde, suggested the violence aimed to provoke communal unrest.

As Nagpur reels from the aftermath, calls mount for inquiries into the incident and accountability for lapses in law enforcement and public safety.