Mumbai Arrest Sparks Investigation into Nagpur Violence Connection

Authorities in Mumbai have detained a 29-year-old Bangladeshi national, Azizul Nizanul Rahman, for allegedly residing in India without legal documentation, prompting an investigation into his potential ties to the violent unrest that erupted in Nagpur on March 17. The arrest, executed by Mumbai’s Crime Branch Unit II in Dadar on Wednesday, has raised questions about Rahman’s movements and activities, according to a police official.

Rahman, a daily wage laborer originally from Hasanbaug in Nagpur, reportedly arrived in Dadar just days before his apprehension. The official revealed that Rahman confessed to securing an Aadhaar card through fraudulent means. “We suspect he was in Nagpur during the violence,” the official stated Thursday, adding that authorities are scrutinizing Rahman’s mobile phone tower data to trace his whereabouts. Mumbai police have also notified their Nagpur counterparts to coordinate efforts in the ongoing probe.

The unrest in Nagpur erupted on March 17 when mobs rampaged through central areas, triggered by rumors that a ‘chadar’ bearing sacred inscriptions was desecrated. The chaos unfolded amid protests organized by the Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP) and Bajrang Dal, who were demanding the demolition of Mughal emperor Aurangzeb’s tomb in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar district. Nagpur police have since arrested over 110 individuals linked to the violence, including prime suspect Fahim Khan.