Aurangzeb Row: How Rumours of Holy Book Desecration Fueled Nagpur Violence
Violence broke out in Nagpur on Monday after rumours spread that a holy book had been desecrated during a protest by right-wing groups demanding the removal of Aurangzeb’s tomb. The unrest led to large-scale arson and vandalism, with vehicles set ablaze and homes in areas like Chitnis Park and Mahal targeted with stone-throwing. Police intervened with tear gas and baton charges, injuring nearly 30 officers and arresting over 60 rioters.
How the Violence Unfolded
The day began peacefully between 7 and 9 a.m. as devotees gathered for a Shiv Jayanti program in front of the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj statue in the Mahal area. Around noon, a group of 40 to 50 members from the Vishwa Hindu Parishad and Bajrang Dal staged a protest demanding the removal of Aurangzeb’s tomb. During the demonstration, they covered an effigy of the Mughal emperor with a cloth and set it on fire.
Soon after, rumours emerged on social media—accompanied by circulating videos that a holy book had been desecrated. By late afternoon, between 5 and 7 p.m., youths from the Muslim community began gathering, chanting slogans in protest. The situation escalated rapidly; within a short time, thousands of youths took to the streets, pelting stones at police.
At approximately 7:30 p.m., the violence intensified further. Cars, bikes, and even a crane were set on fire, and stone-throwing became widespread. Initially, police attempted to control the situation with baton charges, but as chaos spread, they resorted to tear gas.
Authorities Respond
In the immediate aftermath, over 25 rioters were detained, and 5 to 6 civilians were reported injured. The Maharashtra Police’s cyber wing has since launched an investigation into more than 100 social media accounts that are believed to have stoked the flames of unrest. Officials are urging the public not to fall for unverified rumours, noting that old videos are being recirculated online.
The events of Monday have once again highlighted how rapidly misinformation can incite communal tensions and lead to widespread violence.