Authorities bulldoze house of key accused in Nagpur riots

Mumbai: Following Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis’s warning of bulldozer action against those involved in the Nagpur communal riots, authorities have begun razing portions of Fahim Khan’s two-storey house in Sanjay Bagh Colony, Yashodhara Nagar.

Authorities in Nagpur have begun bulldozer action at the house of Fahim Khan, the alleged mastermind of the March 17 communal violence, days after Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis vowed strict action against rioters. Khan, a local politician from Malegaon, was arrested last week on sedition charges, and his residence is now being partially demolished for unauthorised construction violations.

Officials from the Nagpur Municipal Corporation, accompanied by a heavy police force, arrived at the site on Monday morning, demolishing the unauthorised section of Khan’s house, which is registered under his wife’s name. The municipal corporation had earlier issued notices citing structural violations and lack of approval for the building plan.

The March 17 Nagpur riots and aftermath

The violence erupted on March 17 after rumours spread that a ‘chadar’ with religious inscriptions had been burned during a Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP)-led protest demanding the removal of Aurangzeb’s tomb in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar. The clashes resulted in stone-pelting, arson, and attacks on police, leaving 33 officers injured, including three Deputy Commissioners of Police.

Fahim Khan’s arrest and sedition charges

Khan, a Malegaon-based politician, was arrested last week for his alleged role in instigating violence and criminal conspiracy. Maharashtra police have charged him under sedition laws and other relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023.

Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, who also heads the Home Ministry, has vowed stern action against those responsible for the violence. He stated that the cost of damage caused during the riots will be recovered from the accused, warning that failure to pay will result in property seizures and auctions.

Fadnavis further noted that those who spread inflammatory content online will also be charged as co-accused for inciting violence. While he refrained from commenting on possible foreign or Bangladeshi links, he indicated that there is a Malegaon connection, referring to Fahim Khan’s political affiliations without naming him directly.

With curfew now fully lifted from Nagpur, the state government’s bulldozer action signals a zero-tolerance approach to communal violence and further crackdowns on the accused are expected.