Communal riots erupted in otherwise peaceful Nagpur on Monday evening, related to dispute on Mughal ruler Aurangazeb’s Grave. Police had to burst teargas shells to disperse the rioting mob in old Nagpur’s Mahal area. The rioters forced some shops to down shutters in the busy Zenda Chowk area, which led to verbal arguments. Some miscreants started pelting stones. Police immediately rushed to the region and ordered closure of all the shops to prevent the situation flare up.
People celebrating Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj’s Jayanti (according to Hindu Almanac) raised slogans against Aurangazeb, which led to counter sloganeering by the other group, near Shivaji Maharaj statue in Mahal. This led to stone pelting on each other and burning tyres on the road. Some vehicles were also damaged by the rioters.
The police used water cannons to disperse the mob. But they started pelting stones towards the police, which compelled the police to burst tear gas shells.
Meawhile, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and Union Minister Nitin Gadkari have appealed to the people to maintain peace and cooperate with the police.
The rattled common people started running for safe shelter during the riots.
A large number of police personnel have been deployed to restore peace in the region.
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