Nagpur Violence Mastermind Arrested: Video Shows Faheem Khan Instigating Crowd to Disrupt Communal Harmony

Nagpur: After tensions escalated in Nagpur on Monday night, the police have identified the mastermind behind the violence.

On Wednesday, Nagpur police revealed that Faheem Khan was responsible for inciting violent clashes in the Chitnis Park area, which left many injured.

Khan has been arrested by the Nagpur Police and will remain in custody until March 21 for instigating violence during right-wing protests demanding the removal of Mughal emperor Aurangzeb's tomb in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar.

He is linked to the Minority Democratic Party (MDP) and contested in the Nagpur constituency during the 2024 Lok Sabha election. He lost to Union Minister Nitin Gadkari by a huge margin of over 6.5 lakh votes.

The FIR filed by Nagpur police names Khan as the ringleader of the unrest. He reportedly gathered around 50 people, sparking the communal clashes.

A video obtained by Republic TV shows Faheem Khan confronting and chanting slogans before the senior police inspector of Ganesh Peth, further escalating tensions.

The 38-year-old is the city president of the MDP and a resident of Sanjay Bagh Colony in Nagpur's Yashodhara Nagar.

According to sources, the violence erupted after Maghrib Namaz.

Police suspect that the planning may have occurred in the mosque where the Namaz took place, though this is still under investigation.

FIR Reveals Shocking Details

One of the FIRs indicates that the violence in Nagpur may have been pre-planned, involving a range of weapons carried by the rioters. These included axes, sticks, stones, and other dangerous objects intended to spread fear and chaos.

The FIR also revealed that the mob launched a brutal attack in the Bhhaldarpura Chowk area, hurling stones and weapons at the police.

It further mentions that a male crowd attempted to molest a female police officer under the cover of darkness.

Six FIRs Registered

Sources say that six FIRs have been filed in connection with the Nagpur violence, with 1,250 individuals booked for their involvement.

Between 100-150 people have been identified, and efforts are underway to track down the remaining accused.

The police are investigating the social media accounts of those who circulated and instigated the crowd.

More than 100-150 CCTV footages are under review.

Police are also looking into whether any of the individuals involved have links to radical Islamist groups or banned organizations like the PFI.

Speaking to PTI, a senior official confirmed that the law and order situation in Nagpur is now under control. However, a curfew remains in effect in sensitive areas of the city, with over 2,000 armed police personnel deployed.