Nagpur violence: We are ascertaining whether there was a mastermind, says Police Commissioner

Nagpur Commissioner of Police Ravinder Singal interacts with the media at the Chitnis park area in the city on March 18, 2025.
| Photo Credit: PTI

A day after Nagpur witnessed violence in which 34 police personnel and three locals were injured, Nagpur Police Commissioner Ravinder Singal said that his team was ascertaining if there was a mastermind behind the communal tension. The statement assumes significance in the backdrop of Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis’s statement that the violence was “planned and premeditated”.

“We are looking into all aspects of the case. We are also looking at if there is a thread we can find about whether there was a mastermind behind it,” he told The Hindu. When asked if there was any information about a video clip that allegedly went viral, he said: “So far, we have not come to know anything about any false clips. If found, we will take strict action.”

People look at the charred remains of vehicles after a clash broke out between two groups on Mar 17th, in Nagpur on March 18, 2025.
| Photo Credit:
ANI

Also Read: Nagpur violence highlights

Nagpur remains tense after the violence on Monday (March 17, 2025) night. As many as 34 police officials, including three top-ranking officers, were injured, while 12 two-wheelers, two JCBs, one truck, and a few cars were damaged. Nagpur police lobbed teargas and resorted to a lathi charge to disperse the mob at Chitnis Park and Mahal, where the protest over Aurangzeb’s tomb took place. Police have detained over 50 persons and a strict curfew is in place in the jurisdiction of 11 of the 33 police stations in the city.

Mr. Singal said the disturbance was caused in an area covering 800 metres in the city. “A 500-metre stretch at Chitnis Park lane and a 300-metre patch between Gitanjali Chowk and Hansapuri were the only areas which saw a few incidents,” he said, adding that the police had decided to impose curfew in the jurisdiction of 11 of the 33 police stations as a precautionary measure.

“We are carrying out route march in all the affected areas and in the surrounding areas as well. The situation is under control. There was tension in 11 of the 33 police station areas of Nagpur city. We have imposed a curfew in them. These areas include Kotwali, Ganeshpeth, Tehsil, Lakadganj, Pachpaoli, Shantinagar, Sakkardara, Nandanvan, Imamwada, Yashodharanagar, and Kapilnagar,” he said.

eputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) Shashikant Satave, who was injured in March 17 night clashes, receives treatment at a hospital in Nagpur, Tuesday, March 18, 2025.
| Photo Credit:
PTI

8500 police personnel on the streets

When asked about the nature of deployment, he said over 8,500 police personnel including the State Police Reserve Force (SPRF) and Quick Response Teams (QRT) were deployed across the tense areas of the city. “Everyone’s on the job. We are on the streets to safeguard the city’s residents and property.”

Mr. Singal said that some civilians sustained minor injuries in the violence on Monday (March 17, 2025). But he said that three senior police officials were seriously injured. “There were 34 police personnel who were injured. Three of them are still in the hospitals. Of them, two are Deputy Commissioners of Police. They were ahead, leading the teams. We have taken into custody 50 plus people. They were produced in court today.”

One of the two DCPs was allegedly attacked by an axe and another one by a rod. The Chief Minister on Tuesday (March 18, 2025) made a video call to Niketan Kadam, the DCP who was attacked by an axe during the violence. He assured the police officer of full support by the State government.

Elaborating on the incident that took place on Monday (March 17, 2025), the Nagpur Commissioner said: “There was tension between two communities. The police were present at the spots. One of the communities did not move. The second community started pelting stones. Whoever was seen indulging in violence, action was taken against them. Teargas was shelled. Lathi charge was done to save people from getting injured, to save the property.”

FIR against Bajrang Dal, VHP 

Of the five FIRs registered in the matter so far, the first one is against the activists of Bajrang Dal and Vishwa Hindu Parishad at Ganeshpeth Police station under Sections 223, 299, and 37(1)(3) of BNS read with Section 135 of Maharashtra Police Act. The second FIR has been registered at Tehsil police station against an 18-year-old for grievous assault on another individual for an incident, which took place at Agrasen Chowk. The third FIR has been registered at Tehsil police station again, for stone pelting and for damaging vehicles. The fourth FIR is at the Tehsil police station for violence at Hansapuri area against around 300 people for arson, and damaging of vehicles. The FIR mentions that religious slogans were shouted during the attack. The fifth FIR is against 80 to 100 persons in the Ganeshpeth police station area for pelting stones at the police, for torching vehicles and for arson.

When asked about the nature of the curfew, Mr. Singal said, “The aim is to maintain peace. In places where we have imposed a curfew, we have appealed to people to not move out of their houses unless they want to come out for some essential commodities. Otherwise, generally, we say that not more than five persons should gather at a public place.”

He said he wanted to appeal to people to not believe in rumours, “If they want to confirm anything, they should call on our helpline or the control room. If they receive any forwarded messages videos or audio, they should share them with us, so we can take action against those who indulge in law and order issues. I would also like to appeal to people to not share any forwards without proper verification.”