The members of the Bajrang Dal and Vishwa Hindu Parishad had burnt a copy of the Holy Quran along with that of Aurangzeb’s effigy, which triggered clashes and unrest in the area
Team Clarion
NAGPUR — Eight members of the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) and Bajrang Dal who had surrendered to Kotwali police, were subsequently granted bail on Wednesday.
The Nagpur police had previously filed FIRs against them for allegedly offending religious sentiments.
These arrests were linked to their involvement in a protest calling for the removal of Mughal emperor Aurangzeb’s tomb in Sambhajinagar, formerly known as Aurangabad, and stirring the violence in the area, Indian Express reported.
Read Also: Maharashtra: Violence Rocks Nagpur; Curfew Imposed in Several Localities
Following their surrender, the police took the accused into custody, presented them before the court and were subsequently granted the bail.
Meanwhile, a combing operation continued in Nagpur’s Bhaldarpura area, an old city locality, on Wednesday evening. Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) Zone II, Rahul Madne, said that over six suspects had been identified and taken into custody.
Authorities have also pinpointed several residences linked to young individuals allegedly involved in stone-pelting during the recent clashes. Further investigations will determine whether they will be released or face additional questioning.
The violence was triggered after VHP staged protests across various government offices Monday and submitted memorandums for removing Aurangzeb’s tomb in Khuldabad.
Read Also: RSS Condemns Violence Amid Nagpur Clashes, says Aurangzeb Not Relevant Today
Reports also suggest that Hindutva groups, demanding the removal of Mughal ruler Aurangzeb’s tomb burnt an effigy of the Mughal emperor which had the Islamic Kalima embossed on it and 200 members of the Bajrang Dal and Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) burnt a copy of the Holy Quran along with that of Aurangzeb’s effigy, due to which the violence broke out.
Following the violence, a curfew was imposed in parts of Nagpur city and more than 50 persons –mostly Muslims — were arrested during the overnight combing operations.
Read Also: Maharashtra CM Fadnavis says Nagpur Violence Premeditated, ‘Chhava’ Film Fueled Public Anger
