Arson, clashes in Nagpur,15 arrested, curfew imposed

In Maharashtra, violence erupted in central Nagpur on Monday with stones hurled at police amid rumours that the holy book of a community was burnt during an agitation by a right-wing body for the removal of Aurangzeb's tomb, leaving six persons and three policemen injured, officials said. Police arrested 15 persons during combing operations in various localities in Mahal area. Curfew has been imposed in the Police station limits of Kotwali, Ganeshpeth, Lakadganj, Pachpaoali, Shantinagar, Sakkardara, Nandanvan, Imamwada, Yashodhara Nagar and Kapil Nagar in Nagpur city. This curfew will remain in force until further orders,according to Dr Ravinder Kumar Singal, Commissioner of Police.
Earlier, police fired tear gas shells and resorted to cane-charge to disperse the mob in Mahal, which houses RSS headquarters. Violence also reportedly spread to Kotwali and Ganeshpeth in the late afternoon, officials said.DCP Niketan Kadam was seriously injured during a combing operation, while two other cops also sustained injuries. Officials said the Chitnish Park to Shukrawari Talao road belt was most affected by violence as per the preliminary information, where some four-wheelers were set afire by rioters. Stones were also thrown at the homes of residents. Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and Union minister from Nagpur, Nitin Gadkari, have appealed for peace and harmony in the wake of the violence.

Watch: On the Nagpur violence, Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis says, "The situation in Nagpur's Mahal area, where tensions have arisen, is very upsetting. The way some individuals resorted to stone-pelting, including at the police, is completely wrong. I am personally monitoring… pic.twitter.com/kWVfrXuPUX

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According to police, the trouble began late afternoon shortly after Bajrang Dal members demonstrated near the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj statue in Mahal area.An official said stones were thrown at police personnel in Chitnis Park area, following which police fired tear gas shells. Bajrang Dal office-bearers, however, refuted the allegations and claimed that they had only burned an effigy of Aurangzeb as part of their demonstration. A senior police official confirmed that security had been tightened in sensitive areas, with Quick Response Teams (QRT), Riot Control Police, and the State Reserve Police Force (SRPF) being deployed. Additional police personnel from various stations were also summoned.
Maharashtra Congress chief Harshvardhan Sapkal alleged the violence was the failure of the state home department, adding that ministers were "deliberately making provocative speeches" over the last few days. Shiv Sena (UBT) MLA Aaditya Thackeray alleged "unprecedented breakdown" of the law and order situation in the state.