Nagpur's Boiling Point: A Tomb, Rumors, and a City on Edge
Things have gotten pretty intense in Nagpur, Maharashtra. A curfew’s been slapped on the city after some serious clashes broke out over a demand to remove the tomb of Mughal emperor Aurangzeb. It all started on March 17th, 2025, and quickly spiraled into vandalism, arson, and injuries—enough to make the authorities impose a curfew under Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS). Honestly, who saw that coming?
The Spark: A Tomb and a City's Fury
Right-wing groups, including the VHP and Bajrang Dal, organized a protest demanding Aurangzeb's tomb be removed. That’s when things went sideways. Rumors like wildfire—someone burned a holy book, they said. Videos of the chaos went viral: burning cars, clashes with the police, damaged property… it was terrifying to watch. The police accounts are all over the place; some say a photo was burned, others claim it was a religious text. Regardless, several people, including police officers, ended up injured. You know how sometimes things just spiral?
The Political Fallout: Blame Game On
Politically, it’s been a complete dumpster fire. AIMIM national spokesperson Waris Pathan accused the BJP of fueling the violence and distracting from real issues. The Congress jumped on the bandwagon, echoing the same sentiment. Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis pleaded for calm and urged people to ignore the misinformation. Even BSP supremo Mayawati voiced concern and called for action against those inciting the violence. It’s a real mess, with everyone pointing fingers.
Curfew and the Aftermath: Picking Up the Pieces
A curfew’s in place across several areas, disrupting daily life in Nagpur. Over 50 people have been detained, and the police are sifting through CCTV footage to identify those involved. Security’s also been tightened at Aurangzeb's tomb in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, as similar calls for its removal have emerged there too. It’s a tense situation, to say the least.
The Long Shadow: Healing a Divided City
Nagpur is on edge. The curfew is meant to restore order, but the underlying tensions are deeply concerning. This highlights a desperate need for dialogue and a real effort to address the root causes of this conflict. The long-term consequences for communal harmony are still unfolding. It's a somber situation, and the path to healing seems long and uncertain.
