Tue Mar 18 21:40:00 UTC 2025: **Nagpur Police Investigate Mastermind Behind Communal Violence**
**Nagpur, Maharashtra, March 18, 2025** – Following a night of communal violence in Nagpur that left 34 police officers and three civilians injured, Nagpur Police Commissioner Ravinder Singal announced an investigation into whether a mastermind orchestrated the events. This follows Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis’s statement that the violence was “planned and premeditated.”
The violence, which erupted on March 17th, primarily affected a small area around Chitnis Park and Mahal, where protests over Aurangzeb’s tomb took place. Police responded with tear gas and lathi charges to disperse the mob. The unrest resulted in damage to numerous vehicles, including two JCBs and a truck.
Over 50 individuals have been detained, and a curfew remains in effect across 11 of the city’s 33 police station jurisdictions. Commissioner Singal stated that approximately 8,500 police personnel, including the State Police Reserve Force and Quick Response Teams, have been deployed to maintain order. He emphasized that the situation is under control, despite the serious injuries sustained by three senior police officers, including two Deputy Commissioners of Police who were allegedly attacked with an axe and a rod respectively. The Chief Minister spoke to one of the injured DCPs via video call, offering the full support of the state government.
Five FIRs have been filed, targeting individuals and groups allegedly involved in the violence, including members of the Bajrang Dal and Vishwa Hindu Parishad. The police commissioner appealed to the public to disregard rumors and report any suspicious information to the authorities. He stressed the importance of verifying information before sharing it, particularly online.
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