Nagpur, March 18, 2025 – The city of Nagpur descended into chaos on Monday evening as violent clashes broke out over demands to remove Mughal emperor Aurangzeb’s tomb, located in Aurangabad (now officially Sambhaji Nagar), approximately 500 kilometers away. The unrest, which saw stone-pelting, arson, and injuries to police personnel, prompted authorities to impose Section 144 across multiple areas of the city to restore order. As the situation stabilized by Tuesday morning, a heated political blame game emerged, with leaders pointing fingers at each other over the root causes of the riots.The Spark of the ViolenceThe unrest began in Nagpur’s Mahal area when activists from the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) and Bajrang Dal staged a protest at 11:30 AM on Monday, demanding the demolition of Aurangzeb’s tomb. The demonstrators created a symbolic grave made of hay and set it ablaze, an act intended to express their outrage against the Mughal ruler, who remains a polarizing historical figure. By evening, rumors circulated that religious content, including verses from the Quran, had been burned during the protest, fueling anger among local Muslim groups.Tensions escalated rapidly as two groups confronted each other, leading to sloganeering, stone-pelting, and acts of vandalism. Vehicles, including two JCB machines and fire brigade trucks, were set ablaze, and four individuals, including police personnel, sustained injuries. Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, who also holds the Home portfolio, reported that 33 police officers, including three deputy commissioners, were injured, with one senior official attacked with an axe.Police Response and CurfewNagpur Police Commissioner Ravinder Singal acted swiftly, deploying additional forces and using tear gas and mild lathi charges to disperse the clashing groups. By late Monday night, a curfew was imposed under Section 163 of the Bhartiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS) in areas including Kotwali, Ganeshpeth, Tehsil, Lakadganj, Pachpaoli, Shantinagar, Sakkardara, Nandanvan, Imamwada, Yashodharanagar, and Kapilnagar. Section 144, prohibiting gatherings of more than four people, was also enforced to prevent further escalation.Singal appealed for calm, urging residents not to believe rumors. “The situation is now under control. We have registered five FIRs and taken over 50 individuals into custody,” he told the media on Tuesday. A case was also filed against the VHP and Bajrang Dal activists under sections related to outraging religious sentiments.Political Blame Game IntensifiesThe violence sparked a fierce political debate, with leaders offering conflicting narratives about its origins. Chief Minister Fadnavis linked the unrest to the recent release of the Bollywood film Chhaava, starring Vicky Kaushal, which portrays the life of Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj, son of Shivaji Maharaj. “The film brought Sambhaji Maharaj’s history to the forefront, reigniting anger against Aurangzeb,” Fadnavis said in the Maharashtra Assembly, suggesting that emotions stirred by the movie played a role in the protests.However, All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) chief Asaduddin Owaisi accused the Maharashtra government of an “intelligence failure” and blamed provocative statements by state ministers for stoking tensions. “The government burned effigies of Aurangzeb across Maharashtra with no reaction, but when verses of the Quran were allegedly burned, no action was taken despite complaints to the DCP,” Owaisi said, speaking to reporters outside Parliament. He condemned the violence but called it a failure of governance.Meanwhile, Maharashtra BJP MLA Nitesh Rane pointed the finger at Samajwadi Party (SP) MLA Abu Azmi, alleging that Azmi’s recent remarks praising Aurangzeb’s economic contributions triggered the unrest. “Abu Azmi started this issue. This was a preplanned attempt to defame the government,” Rane asserted, promising strict action against those who attacked police personnel. Azmi, in turn, has faced legal scrutiny, with a Mumbai court granting him anticipatory bail on March 14 while cautioning him against making irresponsible statements that could incite riots.Shiv Sena MP Naresh Mhaske, on the other hand, accused Owaisi of instigating the violence to bolster his leadership image. “People like Owaisi cause riots to establish themselves as leaders. There should be an investigation into who is behind this,” Mhaske said.The Chhaava ControversyThe film Chhaava, which has earned over ₹553 crore at the box office, has come under scrutiny for its portrayal of Aurangzeb and its alleged dramatization of Hindu persecution under his rule. Critics, including journalist Saurabh Shukla, have suggested that the movie’s release may have inflamed public sentiment, leading to the protests. “After watching Chhaava, people took to the streets with sticks and rods over Aurangzeb,” Shukla wrote on social media, contrasting the film’s commercial success with the ensuing chaos.Fadnavis acknowledged the film’s impact but emphasized that any action regarding Aurangzeb’s tomb must follow legal processes. “No one has the right to take the law into their own hands,” he warned, promising that those responsible for the violence would face consequences.City on EdgeAs Nagpur returns to a tense calm, residents and authorities remain vigilant. The imposition of Section 144 and the heavy police presence signal the government’s determination to prevent further outbreaks of violence. However, the incident has exposed deep-seated communal fault lines and raised questions about the role of historical narratives, political rhetoric, and popular media in shaping public unrest.For now, the focus remains on restoring peace in Nagpur, even as the debate over Aurangzeb’s legacy and its echoes in modern India continues to reverberate far beyond the city’s borders.