Bangladeshi-Operated Social Media Accounts Fuelled Nagpur Violence? Details Inside

Nagpur: Maharashtra Cyber Cell has traced multiple social media accounts that were operated from Bangladesh , which played a crucial role in fuelling violence in Nagpur, an official said on Thursday.  

According to officials, in the preliminary investigation it has been found that several social media posts which contained content such as “kidnapping women, breaking into homes, be prepared for the future” had their IP address traced to Bangladesh.

Bangladesh Link to Nagpur Violence?

The officials said that the videos that fueled the violence on Monday night were posted from Bangladesh, according to the preliminary investigation. “These videos and posts were shared on platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, X, and YouTube”.

(Violence broke out in Nagpur after clash between two groups/Image-ANI)

Maharashtra Cyber cell, in collaboration with the Nagpur City Cyber police station, has traced several social media accounts involved in spreading provocative content related to the violence. The posts were intentionally crafted to incite communal tensions and further escalate the law and order situation in the state, according to an official release. 

Mastermind Arrested in Nagpur Violence 

The cyber police have filed a case against local leader Fahim Khan, a prime suspect in the Nagpur violence, along with five others on charges of sedition and spreading misinformation on social media during the unrest.

(Shattered glass pieces lay on a road in aftermath of violence/Image-ANI) 

These six individuals are part of a group of 50 accused, for whom the cyber department has registered four First Information Reports (FIRs) in connection with Monday's violence.

Also Read: Nagpur Violence: Rioters Molested Woman Cop, Made Obscene Gestures, Reveals FIR

The cyber crime department has also requested details from Facebook, X, Instagram, and YouTube about 230 profiles on their platforms and has urged the authorities to block these accounts, said DCP Cyber Crime Lohit Matani in a press briefing.

What Happened In Nagpur

On Monday night, violent mobs rampaged through central Nagpur, fuelled by rumors that a ‘chadar’ with sacred inscriptions had been burned during protests organized by the certain organisations, demanding the removal of Mughal emperor Aurangzeb's tomb in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar district.

(Vehicles vandalised in Nagpur violence/Image-ANI)

Meanwhile, a curfew has been lifted or relaxed in some areas of Nagpur on Thursday, three days after violence rocked the city, officials said.