Nagpur: Civic authorities in Nagpur, under heavy police protection, demolished the two-storey house of Fahim Khan, a leader of the Minority Democratic Party (MDP) and a key accused in the recent violence that rocked the city on March 17. The demolition, carried out by the Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC), was reportedly due to unauthorized construction and lack of building plan approval. Three JCB machines were deployed at Sanjay Bagh Colony in Yashodhara Nagar, where Khan’s house was located, while police enforced strict barricading and drone surveillance in the area. Khan, who has been booked for sedition, was arrested along with over 100 others in connection with the violence, which erupted following rumors that a religious ‘chadar’ had been burned during a protest led by the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) demanding the removal of Aurangzeb’s tomb in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar.
The violence in Nagpur led to widespread clashes, including stone-pelting and arson, leaving 33 police personnel injured, including three officers of Deputy Commissioner of Police rank. In response to the unrest, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis announced that damages caused to public and private properties during the riots would be recovered from those found guilty. He warned that if the accused failed to compensate for the losses, their properties would be seized and auctioned. The state government has also begun investigating the possibility of external influences in the riots, including alleged connections to groups in Malegaon. Fadnavis assured that those responsible for attacking the police would face strict action, and individuals who spread inflammatory content would be prosecuted as co-accused in the case.
Fahim Khan’s house, registered in his mother’s name, was built on a plot leased from the Nagpur Improvement Trust, with the lease expiring in 2020. Authorities claimed the entire construction was unauthorized and cited the Maharashtra Regional and Town Planning (MRTP) Act as the basis for the demolition. A 24-hour notice was issued before the action was taken. The opposition has criticized the government’s response, arguing that the demolition was politically motivated and targeted at a particular community. Meanwhile, law enforcement continues to monitor the situation, with police patrols intensified across sensitive areas of the city to prevent further unrest.
