Nagpur police arrest alleged mastermind behind Monday’s violence

NAGPUR: Fahim Shamim Khan, a 38-year-old local leader of the Minorities Democratic Party (MDP), was taken into custody by Nagpur police on Wednesday. According to sources, Khan is suspected of being the mastermind behind the violence that broke out in central Nagpur late Monday night. The unrest saw large-scale arson, stone-pelting, and attacks on police personnel, prompting the authorities to impose a curfew in the area.

After a disagreement between two groups over demolishing Aurangzeb's mausoleum at Chhatrapati Sambhaji Nagar during a protest organized by the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) and Bajrang Dal, violent skirmishes broke out between 8:30 and 9 p.m. on Monday in the Mahal district of old Nagpur. At least ten anti-riot commandos, three IPS officers, two firefighters, and numerous bystanders were injured in the skirmishes.

Khan, a Yashodhara Nagar resident, was arrested soon after his name appeared in a first information report (FIR) filed at the Ganeshpeth Police Station. Khan was included as one of the main suspects in the 18-page FIR. His picture and a video of him reportedly giving an inciting comment shortly before the violence broke out were previously made public by the police.