Nagpur Violence and Mhow Similarities Are Eerie: Organised Mob Playbook Repeats

New Delhi: A violent mob attacked the cops, burnt down vehicles in Maharashtra's Nagpur over the Aurangzeb Tomb Row on Monday evening, with over 33 police personnel injured. The incident occurred days after a group of people interrupted the cricket-lovers' celebrations following India's victory against New Zealand in the ICC Champions Trophy final. 

The similarities between the mob violence in both the places are eerie, both hinting at a likely communal issue…

Eerie Similarities Between Nagpur and Mhow Violence

The violence that occurred in Madhya Pradesh's Mhow, and the one that was reported in Nagpur, are eerily similar, both hinting at a communal issue. Speaking of the Mhow violence, a group of people clashed with the cricket lovers, who were celebrating India's win against New Zealand in the ICC Champions Trophy. The clash between the two groups led to stone-pelting and arson, shops were destroyed and vehicles were also set on fire. On information, the police teams from nearby police stations and para-military force rushed to the spot and brought the violent situation under control.

Also Read: Nagpur Violence: 9 CCTV Clips Indicate Clear Pre-Planning, Maharashtra CM Suspects It To Be A 'Conspiracy'

A similar situation was seen in Nagpur yesterday, after a mob began stone-pelting on the cops, following which, violence broke out, vehicles were burnt down and houses were attacked. This happened after the Opposition constantly glorified the Mughal emperor Aurangzeb while workers of the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) and Bajrang Dal demanded the removal of Aurangzeb’s grave from Sambhaji Nagar, Maharashtra. Amid their peaceful protests, a rumour was spread that a copy of the holy Quran was torn and on that baseless rumour, violence erupted.

The violence in both places seems to be erupting from a communal feeling; the mobs can be seen igniting communal hatred, in an attempt to breach communal peace. The country has constantly grown in the past decade, leaving behind communal hatred and issues between different religions. However, such preplanned attacks and violence are heartbreaking attempts to attack the harmony and secular nature of the country.

Also Read: Cricket Victory Rally Turns Violent In Indore's Mhow: Heavy Force Deployed After Stone-Pelting, Arson

Was Nagpur Violence Pre-Planned?

Nine CCTV videos have emerged, shedding light on the violence in Nagpur related to the Aurangzeb Tomb controversy, suggesting that the unrest was premeditated. The footage shows mobs throwing stones, damaging vehicles, and siphoning fuel from parked motorcycles, with indications that these actions were coordinated. The clips, reviewed by Republic, suggest that the violence was orchestrated and planned in advance. The footage also reveals that the mobs intentionally carried out destructive acts to create widespread chaos, and made efforts to erase any evidence after the violence.

Republic reporters have uncovered details suggesting the violence in Nagpur was orchestrated. The men involved first vandalized motorcycles by opening their petrol tanks and spilling the fuel. They then used spray bottles, filled them with chemicals, set them on fire, and threw them near a petrol station to incite destruction. Further evidence of premeditation includes a jute bag found completely burnt, which had been soaked in petrol, ignited, and thrown toward residential areas. The cars were also set on fire using the spray bottles and jute bags, pointing to a carefully planned act of vandalism.