NAGPUR: Tension gripped central Nagpur on Monday when stones were hurled at police amid rumours that the holy book of the Muslim community was burnt during an agitation by a right-wing body for the removal of Aurangzeb’s tomb, leaving four persons injured, officials said.Police fired tear gas shells and resorted to cane-charge to disperse the mob in Chitnis Park and Mahal areas.Violence also reportedly spread to Kotwali and Ganeshpeth in the late afternoon, officials said.Officials said the Chitnish Park to Shukrawari Talao road belt was most affected by violence as per the preliminary information, where some four-wheelers were set afire by rioters.Stones were also thrown at the homes of residents.Police are trying to disperse mobs believed to be in thousands.The trouble began late afternoon shortly after Bajrang Dal members demonstrated near the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj statue in Mahal area.According to police, rumours spread that the Quran was burnt during the agitation.Videos of the Bajrang Dal demonstration quickly went viral on social media, leading to outrage among members of the Muslim community.A complaint was lodged at Ganeshpeth police station in the evening alleging the burning of the holy book.Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Monday night called for peace and asked people not to believe rumours.”Police are managing the situation following stone pelting and tense situation in the Mahal area,” the chief minister said in a statement.He urged citizens to cooperate with the administration.Fadnavis also said he is in constant contact with the police and asked them to cooperate with the people.”Nagpur is a peaceful city where people share in each other’s joys and sorrows, which has always been Nagpur’s tradition. Do not believe any rumours,” he added.
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