Tue Mar 18 18:42:35 UTC 2025: ## Nagpur Violence Erupts in Political Firestorm

**Nagpur, Maharashtra, March 19, 2025** – Violent clashes erupted in Nagpur on March 17, leaving 33 police officers injured and causing significant property damage. The incident, which involved members of Hindu organizations Bajrang Dal and Vishwa Hindu Parishad, has sparked a major political row in Maharashtra.

Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis called the violence “premeditated,” citing evidence of pre-planned attacks on specific houses and the easy availability of stones and other weapons at a nearby construction site. He attributed the unrest, in part, to the recent release of the film “Chhaava,” which depicts the life of Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj and his death at the hands of Aurangzeb. This, he claimed, fueled anger among some toward Aurangzeb’s symbolic grave.

Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde described the events as a “conspiracy,” questioning the sudden appearance of a large mob and the source of petrol bombs used in the attacks. He noted that police had initially de-escalated a smaller protest.

The Opposition heavily criticized the Mahayuti government’s handling of the situation, accusing it of failing to maintain law and order and creating instability. Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray demanded Fadnavis’s resignation, highlighting the government’s failure to prevent the violence despite the presence of key BJP and RSS offices in Nagpur. He further alleged that the controversy surrounding Aurangzeb’s grave was a deliberate attempt to incite riots. Other opposition figures likened the situation to the ongoing crisis in Manipur.

At least 50 people have been detained, and a curfew has been imposed in several areas with mixed communities. Nagpur Police Commissioner Ravinder Singal stated that investigations are underway, utilizing CCTV footage and social media analysis to identify further perpetrators. Charges related to hurting religious sentiments have been filed against the Bajrang Dal and VHP demonstrators. The incident resulted in damage to numerous vehicles, including two-wheelers, JCBs, a truck, and cars.

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