Nagpur: 6 days after violence, curfew completely lifted

Nagpur: Curfew restrictions were removed from the final four zones in Nagpur, Maharashtra on Sunday, nearly a week after unrest disrupted the city, according to officials.

The curfew had been implemented across eleven police jurisdictions including Kotwali, Ganeshpeth, Tehsil, Lakadganj, Pachpaoli, Shanti Nagar, Sakkardara, Nandanvan, Imambada, Yashodhara Nagar, and Kapil Nagar following the March 17 disturbances.

The violence erupted when crowds turned destructive in central Nagpur on Monday night, fuelled by circulating claims that a sacred cloth bearing religious inscriptions had been set on fire during demonstrations organised by VHP and Bajrang Dal. These protests had originally been calling for the removal of Mughal ruler Aurangzeb’s tomb situated in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar district.

Earlier, the curfew was lifted from Nandanvan and Kapil Nagar police station areas on March 20, and from Pachpaoli, Shanti Nagar, Lakadganj, Sakkardara and Imambada areas on March 22.

Nagpur Police Commissioner Ravinder Singal on Sunday ordered the lifting of curfew in the remaining Kotwali, Tehsil, Ganeshpeth and Yashodhara Nagar police station areas from 3 pm.

Patrolling will continue in sensitive areas along with the deployment of local police, an official said.

Large-scale stone pelting and arson were reported in several parts of Nagpur on March 17 over rumours that a `chadar’ with holy inscriptions was burnt during the VHP protest. Authorities subsequently said the rumours were baseless and were spread mischievously.

Thirty-three police personnel, including three Deputy Commissioner of Police-rank officers, were injured in the violence.

The police have arrested more than 100 persons in connection with the violence.

Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Saturday said the government will recover the cost of property damaged during the recent Nagpur violence from rioters and roll bulldozer “if necessary”.

He said if the perpetrators of violence failed to compensate, their properties would be seized and sold to recover the losses.

He emphasised that strict action would be taken against those who attacked police officers during the unrest.