Tension gripped central Nagpur on Monday after rumors spread that the Quran was burned during a Bajrang Dal protest demanding the removal of Aurangzeb’s tomb. The unrest led to stone-pelting at police, leaving two people injured.
The Nagpur violence erupted in the Chitnis Park and Mahal areas, with reports of disturbances also coming from Kotwali and Ganeshpeth. Police had to fire tear gas shells to disperse the crowds.
The situation escalated after Bajrang Dal members staged a demonstration near the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj statue in Mahal. Videos of the protest went viral, and soon, rumors began circulating that the Quran had been burned. This led to outrage among the Muslim community.
In the evening, a formal complaint was lodged at Ganeshpeth police station regarding the alleged desecration of the holy book. In response, large groups of people gathered in various parts of the city, prompting police to intensify patrols and call for additional security forces.
As tensions rose, stone-pelting was reported in Chitnis Park and Mahal, prompting the police to fire tear gas shells. A senior official stated that Quick Response Teams (QRT), Riot Control Police, and the State Reserve Police Force (SRPF) had been deployed to sensitive areas.
Meanwhile, Bajrang Dal leaders denied the allegations, stating that they had only burned an effigy of Aurangzeb, not the Quran.
Authorities are on high alert to prevent further escalation, and extra police forces have been called in from across the city.
