Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) member Rajkumar Sharma on Tuesday alleged that the violence in Nagpur was a pre-planned attack, blaming certain groups for deliberately escalating tensions following a protest over the removal of a grave.
Speaking to ANI, Sharma claimed that despite discussions with the police and local Muslim community, some individuals used the situation to instigate riots, loot shops, and target Hindu homes.
“The VHP and Bajrang Dal had announced a protest over the removal of a grave. The issue was discussed with the police, and the Muslim community had also understood it. But what followed was a deliberate attempt to spread violence,” Sharma said.
He alleged that those responsible gathered at a mosque, planned to close shops, and then looted Hindu businesses while attacking homes, calling it a “planned conspiracy.”
Violent clashes broke out in Nagpur’s Mahal area on Monday night, where a mob of nearly 1,000 people engaged in stone-pelting, vandalism, and arson, leaving several police personnel injured and damaging multiple vehicles and homes.
The Maharashtra government has since imposed a curfew in multiple areas under Section 163 of the Bhartiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS) to prevent further escalation.
According to an official notification from Nagpur Police Commissioner Ravinder Kumar Singal, the restrictions will remain in place until further notice. The order also detailed that on March 17, around 200-250 members of VHP and Bajrang Dal gathered at Shivaji Maharaj statue in Mahal, Nagpur, demanding the removal of Aurangzeb’s grave. The protesters also displayed a symbolic green cloth filled with cow dung cakes.
VHP leader Vinod Bansal echoed Sharma’s claims, stating, “Violence was spread as part of a pre-planned conspiracy. We are confident that the Maharashtra government is taking action against those responsible.”
Meanwhile, Sharma questioned the lack of action against those who vandalized Hindu properties and temples, warning that if authorities failed to act, the Hindu community would be forced to respond on the streets.
The situation in Nagpur remains tense, with heavy police deployment and authorities closely monitoring developments to prevent further unrest.
