According to Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, the government will reimburse the rioters for the expenses incurred in repairing the properties damaged during the recent rioting in Nagpur. He threatened to take “bulldozer” action and threatened to confiscate and sell their properties if they didn’t pay. “Whatever damage has happened will be recovered from the rioters. If they do not pay the money, then their property will be sold for the recovery. Wherever required, bulldozers will also be used,” Fadnavis was quoted as saying by news agency.
He warned that anybody who attacked police officers during the disturbances would face harsh consequences, he told the media on Saturday. Although he recognized that intelligence gathering may have been improved, he claimed the violence could not be considered a “intelligence failure.” 104 people have been identified by authorities using CCTV and video recordings. Twelve juveniles are among the 92 individuals who have been subject to action.
After rumors circulated that a “chadar” bearing Islamic inscriptions had been set on fire during demonstrations by the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP), which was calling for the destruction of Aurangzeb’s monument at Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, violence broke out on March 17. 33 police officers, including three Deputy Commissioners of Police, were injured in clashes that resulted in stone-throwing and burning in several areas of the city.
“My government will not rest until those responsible for attacking the police are found and dealt with sternly,” he was quoted as saying by news agency in its report. He claimed that the situation in Nagpur was now under control and that attempts were being made to loosen the curfew in some places.
According to Fadnavis, victim compensation will be given out shortly. 68 social media posts that made matters worse have been found and removed by authorities. He stated that people who disseminated anything that was controversial will face charges as co-accused in the case. “Riots broke out only in parts of the city, while 80 per cent of Nagpur was not impacted,” he said.
Since the investigation is still ongoing, he said it was too soon to comment on any connection between Bangladesh or other countries and the rioting. “Those who circulated inflammatory posts on social media that aggravated the situation will be made co-accused in the riots case because they facilitated in instigating people. 68 such social media posts have been identified and deleted,” he said.
Although protestors threw stones at female police constables, Fadnavis claimed that they were not assaulted. “It is foolish to say such things,” he stated in response to rumors that the violence had political motivations. The violence has no political component.
He met with senior police and administrative authorities at the police commissioner’s office on Friday while in Nagpur to evaluate the situation. He went over the police response and talked about how the violence developed.
Fadnavis responded that one of the panel members is charged in the Akola violence case when asked if Congress was politicizing the matter by sending a committee to visit the impacted districts. According to Nagpur Police, 105 persons have been taken into custody in relation to the violence, including Fahim Khan, a prominent suspect and head of the Minority Democratic Party who was charged with sedition.
