A total of at least 45 people have been taken into custody regarding the clashes, which turned violent in Nagpur, injuring 34 police personnel and five civilians, district guardian minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule said on Tuesday.
Addressing media persons at the Nagpur airport from where he had arrived to take stock of the situation, Bawankule confirmed that two of the civilians injured in the mishap were admitted to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) of a hospital. He also mentioned that 45 vehicles were damaged in the incident. The minister appealed to all members of the community to keep peace and not support any anti-social elements.
Bawankule promised that severe action would be initiated against the culprits of the violence. He stated that he was going to meet the Nagpur police commissioner and the district collector to thoroughly analyze the incident, as instructed by the chief minister.
The violence broke out on Monday night in Nagpur's central area, after rumors of the burning of the holy book of a community during an agitation by a right-wing organization seeking the demolition of Mughal emperor Aurangzeb's tomb in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar district. Stones were hurled at police officers as the crisis deepened, and both police and civilians were injured.
The minister informed that 40 to 45 individuals had been detained in connection with the violence. He assured that 33 to 34 police officers were injured during the clashes and five civilians were injured too. Two of the civilians are still in ICU, and three others were discharged after receiving treatment.
Bawankule underlined that the government was keeping a close watch on social media to find out who was propagating rumors, which had fueled the unrest. He again said that the Hindu and Muslim populations in Nagpur had always lived in harmony and such an incident was new in the city.
The minister gave a promise of taking action against the anti-social elements that committed the violence and appealed to the two communities to assist in re-establishing peace. He further indicated that he would visit the injured police officers and other victims.
Earlier during the day, the police declared that a curfew had been enforced in many parts of Nagpur after the violence. Under the curfew, the Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) would decide on the movement of vehicles when necessary.
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