ASI covers Aurangzeb’s tomb in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar after Nagpur violence
By : Sandhya
The Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) on Thursday covered parts of Mughal ruler Aurangzeb's tomb in Maharashtra's Chhattrapati Sambhajinagar district with tin sheets on two sides amid demands for its removal. The district administration made the decision two days ago following a visit by collector Dilip Swami and superintendent of police Vinaykumar Rathod, along with ASI officials.
A local official told PTI that tin sheets and wire fencing were placed on two sides of the structure on Wednesday night. Additionally, a circular fence will be installed around the tomb. A senior district official stated, “The green net covering two sides of the tomb was in bad shape, and the structure was visible to those visiting the nearby Khwaja Syed Zainuddin Chishti grave. So, we have installed tin sheets.”
The move follows protests by the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) and Bajrang Dal demanding the removal of Aurangzeb's tomb, which escalated into violence in Nagpur on Monday. The 17th-century Mughal emperor drew renewed attention after the success of the Hindi film Chhaava, which depicts the life of Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj, the Maratha warrior king, who was executed on Aurangzeb's orders.