Nagpur Violence: 10 minors among fresh arrests by police; total 105 held

NEW DELHI: Police officials have arrested 14 additional individuals, including 10 minors, in connection with the unrest in Nagpur, earlier this week, bringing the total arrests to 105, as confirmed by a senior police authority on Friday. The authorities have also filed three additional FIRs regarding the incident.
Meanwhile, the Judicial Magistrate First Class Court (JMFC) has remanded 19 accused in connection with the violence in Nagpur, earlier this week, till March 24, Megha Burange, Assistant Public Prosecutor said on Saturday.

21 accused remanded MCR (Magisterial Custody Remand) till March 24, Burange added.

What happened in Nagpur?
On March 17, widespread violence erupted in various areas of Nagpur following rumours about the burning of a "chadar" with sacred inscriptions during demonstrations by the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP). The VHP was protesting for the removal of Mughal emperor Aurangzeb's tomb in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar district.
The protest, which called for the removal of Aurangzeb's tomb in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar district, ignited widespread stone-pelting and arson across several parts of Nagpur.
Police form 18 special teams to nab culprits
Law enforcement has established 18 dedicated teams to pursue and capture those responsible for the unrest in Nagpur, as confirmed by officials on Thursday. Authorities have taken 69 people into custody in connection with Monday's disturbance. The curfew continued for the third straight day on Thursday across several areas of the city.
According to a senior official, the police have identified 200 suspects and are working to determine the identities of 1,000 more individuals who were recorded on CCTV during the unrest.
Authorities lodged five First Information Reports (FIRs) at Ganeshpeth and Kotwali police stations on Monday, which named 200 accused persons.
Officials confirmed they are reviewing CCTV recordings to identify additional participants involved in the unrest.
On Wednesday, Nagpur Commissioner of Police Dr Ravinder Kumar Singal briefed journalists about the special teams, which include staff from Ganeshpeth, Kotwali and Tehsil police stations, along with the Crime Branch.
An official verified that these teams are working in conjunction with the cyber cell to support the identification of suspects.
'Mastermind' arrested
The authorities have charged primary suspect Fahim Khan with sedition amongst other offences.
Police records indicate that Khan allegedly coordinated a demonstration outside a Nagpur police station on Monday. His criminal history includes charges of electricity theft and participation in protests during 2023-2024.
According to the FIR, Khan led a group of 50 to 60 individuals who illegally assembled outside Ganeshpeth police station on Monday to submit a memorandum opposing an earlier Vishwa Hindu Parishad protest.
Officials stated that Khan and eight others went to Bhaldarpura area, where they found 500 to 600 people from a minority community gathered near Shivaji Maharaj Chowk, leading to Khan's arrest.
On Wednesday, Singal confirmed that investigations were continuing to identify the assailants and determine the involvement of individuals mentioned in the FIR regarding Khan's suspected role in orchestrating the violence.
The Monday night violence resulted in injuries to thirty-three police personnel, including three DCP-rank officers. The incident involved vehicle damage, petrol bomb attacks, stone-throwing at police, and assaults on residences.
Preliminary investigations reveal that the unrest began following rumours about a 'chadar' with holy inscriptions being burnt during VHP-led demonstrations demanding the removal of Mughal emperor Aurangzeb's tomb in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar district.
The FIR documents that some rioters allegedly harassed a female constable and attempted to remove her uniform during the disturbance.