Wed Mar 19 08:57:43 UTC 2025: ## Nagpur Riots: Key Accused Arrested, 60 Detained Amidst Political Fallout
**Nagpur, Maharashtra –** A key accused, Faheem Khan, a local politician from the Minority Democratic Party, has been arrested in connection with the violent riots that erupted in Nagpur earlier this week. The clashes, stemming from demands to relocate the tomb of Mughal emperor Aurangzeb, have left 38 injured, including 33 police officers, and resulted in widespread property damage.
Police have arrested 60 individuals in total and are investigating whether the violence was orchestrated by a single individual or an organization. Six cases have been registered, with complaints filed against 1,200 people, though fewer than 200 have been formally named.
Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis described the violence as a premeditated conspiracy, alleging that the unrest began after Hindu protesters burned a symbolic grave and rumors spread about religious texts found on the covering. He also controversially cited the Hindi film “Chhava,” which depicts the Maratha-Mughal conflict, as a possible contributing factor, a claim met with sharp criticism from the opposition.
The violence, which involved widespread vandalism and arson, saw mobs attacking police with stones, petrol bombs, and even an axe, with allegations of female officers being sexually harassed. A curfew remains in effect in 10 police station areas.
Opposition leader Uddhav Thackeray and his son Aaditya have strongly criticized the BJP-led government, demanding accountability and accusing the party of using the controversy as a distraction from governance failures. They questioned the need for violence over a centuries-old, unmarked grave.
While the Archaeological Survey of India protects Aurangzeb’s tomb as a historical monument, Chief Minister Fadnavis has publicly expressed his desire to remove it, stating that it must be done within the legal framework. The investigation continues.
First Piper 