On March 17th, a terrible incident shook the city of Nagpur in Maharashtra, showing the true colors of a Muslim mob that launched a vicious, preplanned attack. In the Bhhaladarpura area, "a Muslim mob molested a woman police officer in the Bhhaladarpura area of Nagpur, Maharashtra, and attempted to disrobe her during the violence by the mob over Hindus demanding the removal of Aurangzeb’s tomb." This wasn’t just a random outburst—it was a calculated move by troublemakers who couldn’t stand Hindus raising their voices for justice. The brave Hindus were simply asking for the removal of Aurangzeb’s tomb, a symbol of oppression from history, when this chaos erupted. The authorities didn’t sit idle; "an FIR has been filed against the rioters at Ganeshpeth police station," making it clear that such lawlessness won’t be tolerated.

The spark for this shameful violence came from lies spread by the mob, claiming "copies of the Quran were burnt during protests by Hindus." Instead of seeking truth or peace, these rioters used it as an excuse to unleash havoc. Imagine the scene: "thousands of mobsters were seen chanting Islamic slogans, vandalising vehicles, pelting stones at houses, and destroying shops belonging to Hindus in different parts of the city." It was a deliberate assault on innocent Hindu families, their homes, and their livelihoods. Vehicles were smashed, stones rained down on houses, and shops that Hindu shopkeepers worked hard to build were torn apart—all because a group of Muslims couldn’t handle Hindus standing up for their beliefs. This wasn’t a reaction; it was a planned strike to terrorize and silence.

The situation grew even uglier as the mob swelled in numbers. Reports tell us that "a mob of around 500 individuals was chanting slogans and pelting stones." Five hundred angry rioters, shouting their slogans, turned the streets into a war zone. The police, doing their duty, rushed to the scene with senior officials leading a strong team, including riot control units and female officers, all working hard to stop the madness. They weren’t there to pick a fight—they just wanted to bring back peace. But the Muslim mob had other plans, showing no respect for law and order or the people trying to protect the city.

Things took a nasty turn when the police tried to break up the crowd. "As the police attempted to disperse the mob, the Islamists turned aggressive and started pelting stones at the police personnel." These weren’t just stones—they were weapons of hate aimed at officers who were risking their lives. The mob didn’t stop there; "they abused the police and physically assaulted some officers," proving their intent wasn’t just to protest but to harm anyone in their way. Then came the most disgraceful moment: "amid the ongoing violence, a group within the mob got hold of a woman police officer and molested her. They attempted to disrobe her."

It’s sickening to think how low these rioters sank, targeting a female officer with such cruelty. Thank goodness she was strong and quick enough to get away, as "fortunately, the female police officer managed to escape in time." But the mob’s anger didn’t fade; "as she escaped, the rioters turned to police vehicles parked in the area and vandalised them," smashing anything they could to vent their rage.

This wasn’t a spur-of-the-moment clash—it was a cold, calculated attack by a Muslim mob against Hindus and the police who stood in their way. The Hindus were peacefully demanding justice, but the response was violence, destruction, and an assault on a woman’s honor. It’s a dark mark on Nagpur, showing how far some will go to crush others’ voices.

Round-the-Clock Police Patrols

After the riots left Nagpur reeling, the police stepped up to make sure this kind of madness wouldn’t happen again. They’ve marked out the danger zones, with "police have marked 11 areas as highly sensitive and 19 as sensitive following the riots." These are places where the tension was thick, and they’re not taking any chances. To keep things under control, "additional police forces have been deployed in the area for round-the-clock patrols." That means day and night, officers are out there, watching over the streets to protect the people—especially the Hindus who were targeted so brutally.

The areas hit hardest, like Mahal and Mominpura, are getting special attention. "The sensitive areas include Mahal and Mominpura," and it’s no surprise why—these neighborhoods saw the worst of the mob’s fury. Now, "reports suggest that armed police units have been patrolling these areas continuously to ensure law and order."

Police Say Key Nagpur Suspect Fahim Khan Gathered Mob Before Rioting, Take Him In Custody

The investigation into the March 17 Nagpur riots has revealed that the key suspect, Fahim Shamim Khan, played a significant role in orchestrating the violent events that unfolded that day. The First Information Report (FIR) has identified Fahim Khan as the individual responsible for gathering and mobilizing a mob at two separate locations hours before the riots began.

Police arrested Fahim Khan on Tuesday night, and he will remain in custody until March 21 as the investigation continues into his role in the violence. (Hindustan Times)

The FIR, which has been accessed by CNN-News18, details how Fahim Khan first gathered people near a police station and later near a mosque in the Mahal area of Nagpur, where the clashes escalated into full-blown riots. Police officials are actively investigating whether he acted alone or as part of a larger conspiracy.

According to the FIR, Khan’s group had earlier submitted a memorandum at Ganeshpeth Police Station, demanding legal action against Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) activists who had organized a protest. However, instead of allowing authorities to handle the situation legally, Khan used the situation as a pretext to incite communal violence, which ultimately resulted in large-scale riots. (Times of India)

Several videos from the riots on March 17 have surfaced, showing that rioters raised slogans glorifying Mughal emperor Aurangzeb, referring to him as ‘Alamgir Hazrat’. The FIR states that Fahim Khan actively spread rumors, provoked people, and incited violence by falsely claiming that a holy book had been desecrated. His pre-planned instigation led to massive unrest in Nagpur, with Hindu shops, vehicles, and homes targeted by an enraged mob.

During a press conference on Wednesday, Nagpur Police Commissioner Ravinder Singal stated that authorities were analyzing all evidence to determine whether the violence was the result of an individual’s conspiracy or a broader extremist network.

“We are verifying the names coming up in relation to the rioting," said Commissioner Ravinder Singal, emphasizing that all those responsible will face strict legal action.

Who is Fahim Khan?

Fahim Khan, aged 38, is the city president of the Minorities Democratic Party (MDP) and was a candidate in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections from Nagpur. He contested against senior BJP leader and Union Minister Nitin Gadkari, but suffered a humiliating defeat, securing just 1,073 votes while losing by a massive margin of 6.5 lakh votes. (Hindustan Times)

His election affidavit revealed that he had declared total assets worth just ₹75,000, with no liabilities or declared income. Additionally, his affidavit listed three criminal cases against him, though none were considered ‘serious offenses’ at the time. However, his involvement in the recent riots has now placed him at the center of a violent conspiracy investigation.

Nagpur Violence: The FIR Details

According to the FIR, the unrest began when members of Bajrang Dal and the VHP held a protest demanding the removal of Aurangzeb’s tomb. On the occasion of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj’s birthday, they also burnt a symbolic effigy of Aurangzeb.

Following this, a group of nearly 60 individuals, led by Fahim Khan, arrived at the police station to demand action against the Hindu activists. While the police attempted to maintain peace, an additional mob of 500 people assembled and began inciting riots. They chanted provocative slogans and spread rumors in order to inflame tensions further.

The mob carried dangerous weapons, including axes, stones, and petrol bombs, and launched a violent assault on police personnel. Reports confirm that they also made obscene gestures and comments towards female police officers, with some even attempting to molest one of them. (Times of India)

This violent and pre-planned attack has led authorities to closely examine Fahim Khan’s role, as well as the involvement of any larger extremist networks behind the rioting.

Latest Updates on the Nagpur Clashes

As of now, fifty individuals have been detained in connection with the clashes, and a curfew remains in place across ten police districts in Nagpur for the second consecutive day. The unrest, which began on March 17, has led to heightened security measures. ​

DCP Rahul Maknikar, speaking to the news agency ANI, stated, “The situation is under control. The investigation is ongoing, and we have formed 10 teams. So far, 50 people have been detained.” ​mint

In a related development, the Judicial Magistrate First Class (JMFC) court has remanded 19 of the accused involved in the violence to police custody until March 21. The Ganeshpeth police produced the accused in court earlier this week. ​

Nagpur Violence

On the evening of March 17, Nagpur underwent violent unrest that left more than 30 people wounded over rumors of the burning of a copy of the Quran during a protest by Hindu organizations demanding the removal of Aurangzeb’s tomb in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar. ​

Demonstrators covered an effigy of the Mughal despot with a sheet and then set it on fire during the agitation. However, rumors quickly surfaced that a copy of the Quran had also been burned during the outrage. These false claims spread rapidly, especially through social media, triggering members of the Muslim community. The atmosphere became tense as thousands of Muslims gathered to protest, shouting Islamic slogans, after which they wreaked havoc on the streets of Nagpur. ​

According to reports, rioters set fire to cars, threw stones, and damaged public property. Three cars and around 30 vehicles were set ablaze, 33 police personnel were hurt, and nearly 60 to 65 rioters were arrested. The area around the Kotwali police station was soon affected by the violence that started in Chitnis Park and Mahal and later spread to other parts. The decoration materials intended for the Ram Navami Shobha Yatra were also not spared. According to witnesses, the rioters had their faces concealed and were carrying swords, weapons, and bottles. ​

The situation remains tense, and authorities are urging citizens to maintain peace and cooperate with law enforcement agencies.