Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Saturday assured strict action against those involved in the recent riots in Nagpur, stating that “rioters will pay for the damages, and if they fail, their property will be sold to recover the losses.”
The violence broke out on March 17 after rumors spread that a ‘chadar’ with holy inscriptions had been burnt during protests led by the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP), which demanded the removal of Aurangzeb’s tomb in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar district. The unrest escalated into large-scale stone pelting and arson across multiple areas in Nagpur, prompting the police to take swift action.
So far, 104 rioters have been identified, including 12 juveniles, and 92 individuals have been arrested. CM Fadnavis confirmed that more arrests will follow as investigations continue. The state government has also pledged compensation for riot-affected individuals, assuring that financial aid will be delivered within a week.
The curfew imposed to control the situation has disrupted daily life, and CM Fadnavis stated that restrictions will be gradually eased to restore normalcy. He further warned that bulldozer action will be taken against illegal properties linked to rioters, if necessary.
Addressing concerns about security lapses, CM Fadnavis denied any intelligence failure but acknowledged that more intelligence could have been gathered to prevent the violence. Meanwhile, he confirmed that Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s scheduled visit to Nagpur remains unchanged despite the recent unrest.
In a major development, Fahim Khan Shamim Khan, city president of the Minorities Democratic Party (MDP), has been arrested along with his associates under sedition charges for allegedly inciting violence. Authorities have intensified security across the city to prevent further disturbances and are closely monitoring the situation.
👉 Click here to read the latest Gujarat news on TheLiveAhmedabad.com