Nagpur violence: Curfew imposed amid Aurangzeb row, several detained; essential services remain unaffected - Key updates

A curfew has been imposed in parts of Nagpur under Section 163 of the Bhartiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS) amid tensions over the demand to remove Aurangzeb's grave. The areas include Kotwali, Ganeshpeth, Tehsil, Lakadganj, Pachpaoli, Shantinagar, Sakkardara, Nandanvan, Imamwada, Yashodharanagar, and Kapilnagar.

Nagpur Police Commissioner Ravinder Kumar Singal said in the order, “restrictions will remain until further notice.”

Check the key developments:

• Police have imposed a "communication ban (curfew)" in affected areas under Section 163 to prevent further incidents and maintain peace, the order states.
• "During the lockdown period, no person should go out of the house for any reason other than medical reasons, nor should more than five people gather inside it. Also, orders are passed to prohibit spreading any kind of rumour, prohibiting doing all such acts," it reads.

• Anyone violating the curfew "remains punishable under Section 223 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS)."
• However, the order says it “will not be applicable to police officers/employees on duty as well as government/administrative officers/employees, students appearing for essential services, and persons related to the fire brigade and various departments.”

• On Monday evening, around 200 to 250 members of the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) and Bajrang Dal gathered near the Shivaji Maharaj statue in Mahal, Nagpur, to support removing Aurangzeb's grave. The protesters raised slogans demanding the grave's removal and displayed a symbolic green cloth filled with cow dung cakes.
• Around 7:30 pm, a crowd of 80 to 100 people gathered in Bhaldarpura, escalating tensions and disrupting law and order. Police said, “gathering caused distress to the public and affected the movement of people on the roads.”
• Meanwhile, Violence erupted in Nagpur's Hansapuri area as unidentified individuals vandalized shops, torched vehicles, and pelted stones, following an earlier clash between two groups in the Mahal area that had already heightened tensions in the city, according to reports.
• Earlier, Nagpur Police Commissioner Ravinder Singal assured residents that the situation was now under control. "The situation is peaceful right now. A photo was burned, following which people gathered. We requested them to disperse, and we even took action in this regard. They had even come to my office to meet me. They were told that an FIR had been lodged based on the names they mentioned, and action would be taken against them," he said.

• Nagpur Police have detained over 20 to 50 people.
• Meanwhile, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and Union Minister Nitin Gadkari's appealed for peace.
  
  "Stones were pelted, and the police were attacked. This is very wrong, and I am monitoring the situation. I have directed the Police Commissioner to take strict action to maintain law and order and restore peace," said CM Devendra Fadnavis, issuing a video statement.
• Gadkari said, "Nagpur always has a history of peace. I appeal to all my brothers to maintain peace. Do not believe rumours and do not come on roads."