"Conspiracy was hatched": Maharashtra BJP Chief condemns violence in Nagpur

Nagpur (Maharashtra) [India], March 18 (ANI): Maharashtra Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) chief Chandrashekhar Bawankule on Tuesday alleged that a "conspiracy was hatched" that resulted in violence unfolding in Nagpur. He said that he had been living in the city since childhood and people of all religions maintained a feeling of brotherhood.
"The Maharashtra government has made every effort to ensure peace in all parts of the state. We have been living in Nagpur since childhood while maintaining brotherhood. In between, however, some conspiracy is hatched, and such an incident occurs. The police are probing this matter to find out how this violence started," Bawankule told ANI.
"The incident which occurred in Nagpur yesterday is unfortunate. The CM is making all efforts to calm down the people of Nagpur. 34 Police personnel were injured in the incident. 40-45 vehicles were damaged. Four to five civilians also received injuries," he added.
Amid claims by the opposition that the situation in Maharashtra was worsening due to statements made by some ministers in the Mahayuti government, Bawankule said that the government has instructed everyone not to make remarks that would make the situation tense.
"We have asked everyone not to give statements which may make the situation tense. The ruling side and the opposition have the duty to ensure the atmosphere remains calm," the senior BJP leader said.
He further stated that the situation remained "tense" but was "under control." Bawankule appealed to people in Nagpur to cooperate with the police, as the government was making efforts to prevent such incidents from being repeated.
"The situation is tense but under control right now. Social media accounts talking about this event are being tracked. We are making all efforts to ensure that such an incident is not repeated. We will find those behind this incident. I appeal to people to cooperate with the police. All communities should find those behind such an incident," he said.
Nagpur Police on Tuesday said over 50 people in connection with the violence which erupted in Nagpur on March 17 night, and is in the process of identifying any other people involved through CCTV footage and social media posts. The situation in the area is peaceful now, city's Commissioner of Police Ravinder Kumar Singal said on Tuesday.
"The situation is peaceful now, we have imposed a curfew under the area of around 11 police stations. The situation is under control," Nagpur Commissioner of Police told ANI.
"We have taken more than 50 people into custody. Other than that if people are being seen in CCTV's and in social media posts of doing such acts of violence of damaging property and disturbing peace then we are identifying them and catching them," he said.
The Nagpur CP also dismissed any allegations of Police not responding adequately to the violence, pointing out that the officials were present from the start, which led to 33 policemen being injured.
"The allegations might be made, but if one can see the police was there from the start, no one has been hurt physically (from the public), and if we see then because of us being in front around 33 policemen have been injured," he added.
Meanwhile, the ruling Mahayuti and the opposition in Maharashtra came face to face in the assembly premises on Tuesday morning with MLAs from both sides seen raising slogans against each other.
While Shiv Sena leaders protested seeking the removal of Aurangzeb's tomb, the opposition labelled the "riots a success of the government".
The opposition said that the situation in Maharashtra was worsening due to statements made by some ministers in the Mahayuti government.
However, MLAs from the ruling alliance accused some people of glorifying Mughal Emperor Aurangzeb.
A curfew has been imposed in multiple areas of Nagpur city under Section 163 of the Bhartiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS) following tensions over the demand to remove Aurangzeb's grave, read an official Maharashtra police notification. According to the official order issued by Nagpur Police Commissioner Ravinder Kumar Singal, the restrictions will remain in place until further notice.
The curfew applies to police station limits in Kotwali, Ganeshpeth, Tehsil, Lakadganj, Pachpaoli, Shantinagar, Sakkardara, Nandanvan, Imamwada, Yashodharanagar, and Kapilnagar. (ANI)