Fahim Khan, six others booked for sedition

Nagpur: The cyber police have booked local leader Fahim Khan, a key accused in the Nagpur violence, and five others on charges of sedition and spreading misinformation on social media during the unrest here, officials said on Thursday.

These six persons are among 50 accused against whom the cyber department has registered four First Information Reports (FIRs) in connection with the violence here on Monday, they said.

The cybercrime department has also asked for information from Facebook, X, Instagram and YouTube authorities about 230 profiles on their platforms and sought for them to be blocked, DCP Cyber Crime Lohit Matani said at a press briefing.

As soon as the department gets the information, the accused will be identified and arrested, he said.

The official said their probe has indicated that misinformation was spread initially after some videos were shared on social media, which fuelled violence further and then more videos "glorified the violence".

Six persons, including Minority Democratic Party (MDP) city head Fahim Khan, have been booked for sedition in the cyber police's FIRs, Matani said.

Rumours about a ‘chadar' with holy inscriptions being burnt during protests led by the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) seeking the removal of Mughal emperor Aurangzeb's tomb, located in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar district, was the prima facie trigger for violence on Monday.

Matani said Khan edited a video of a protest against Aurangzeb's tomb, and circulated it (on social media) and he had also shared videos of "glorification of the violence".

The four FIRs have been registered in connection with the creation of provocative videos of protest against Aurangzeb's tomb and their circulation to instigate violence.

Besides, clippings of violence were shared (on social media) to incite more riots.

Also, indecent posts were shared which further instigated the violence, and videos of the riots and chants (made by some people) were glorified to trigger more violence, Matani said referring to the FIRs.

Asked if Khan was the mastermind of the violence, Nagpur Commissioner of Police Dr Ravinder Kumar Singal, said that investigations were underway to identify attackers and the role of the persons named in the FIR.

Curfew lifted, relaxed in parts of Nagpur

Curfew was lifted or relaxed in some areas of Nagpur on Thursday, three days after violence rocked the city, officials said.

Violent mobs went on a rampage in central Nagpur areas on Monday night amid rumours that a ‘chadar' with holy inscriptions was burnt during protests led by VHP and Bajrang Dal for the removal of Mughal emperor Aurangzeb's tomb located in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar district.

Subsequently, curfew was imposed in Kotwali, Ganeshpeth, Tehsil, Lakadganj, Pachpaoli, Shanti Nagar, Sakkardara, Nandanvan, Imambada, Yashodhara Nagar and Kapil Nagar police station areas.

Considering the people's convenience and law and order, Commissioner of Police Ravinder Singal ordered the lifting of curfew from Nandanvan and Kapil Nagar police station areas from 2 pm on Thursday.

Besides, Singal ordered for the relaxation of curfew in Lakadganj, Pachpaoli, Shantinagar, Sakkardara and Imambada areas from 2 pm to 4 pm to allow the people to venture out to buy the essential items of daily need.

18 special teams to nab culprits

Police have formed 18 special teams to track down and arrest those involved in the violence in Maharashtra's Nagpur city, officials said on Thursday.

As of now, 69 persons have been in connection with the violence which took place here on Monday. Curfew remained imposed in several areas of the city for the third day on Thursday.

The police have so far identified 200 accused and are actively working to identify another 1,000 suspects captured in CCTV footage of the riots, a senior official said.

On Monday, five First Information Reports (FIRs) were registered at the Ganeshpeth and Kotwali police stations wherein 200 accused have been named.

Efforts were on to identify the others involved in the violence with the help of the CCTV footage, the official said.

Nagpur Commissioner of Police Dr Ravinder Kumar Singal on Wednesday told reporters that the special teams formed include personnel from the Ganeshpeth, Kotwali and Tehsil police stations, along with the Crime Branch.

The teams are also working closely with the cyber cell to help identify the suspects, another official said.

Thirty-three police personnel, including three DCP-rank officers, were injured on Monday night when mobs went on a rampage, damaging vehicles, hurling petrol bombs and stones at police, and attacking houses.

Cyber cell finds over 140 objectionable posts

The Cyber department has identified more than 140 posts and videos containing objectionable contents across social media platforms aimed at inciting communal unrest, officials said.

These videos and posts were found uploaded on Facebook, Instagram, X and YouTube, an official said on Wednesday.

Notices have been issued under section 79(3)(b) of the Information Technology (IT) Act 2000 to facilitate the immediate take-down of such content, he said.

Additionally, notices have also been served under section 94 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS) to uncover the real identities of the individuals operating these accounts.

The Maharashtra Cyber, in coordination with the Nagpur City Cyber police station, has identified multiple social media accounts engaged in disseminating objectionable content concerning the Nagpur riots which took place on Monday.

The content in question was deliberately designed to hurt the sentiments of a particular religious group, incite communal unrest, and further escalate the ongoing law and order situation in the state, the Maharashtra Cyber stated in a release.

By exploiting deeply held beliefs, such material seeks to provoke the public, create discord and deepen divisions within communities, it said.

Such actions not only violate legal provisions but also pose a serious threat to peace and stability, it added.

Noting that riots have caused significant damage to public property, the cyber department said strict legal action will be taken against those responsible for spreading such provocative content.

Probe harassment of woman cop: Gorhe to DGP

The state’s legislative council Deputy Chairperson Neelam Gorhe on Wednesday directed the DGP to conduct an immediate inquiry into the alleged harassment of a woman police constable during a violent clash in Nagpur.

A group of rioters allegedly touched the constable inappropriately and tried to disrobe her during the violence on Monday after protests against Mughal emperor Aurangzeb's tomb, officials had said.

Calling the incident "extremely shameful and outrageous", Gorhe said, "The accused must be identified immediately, and an inquiry should be conducted by the DGP. It should also be examined whether other women in the area faced any harassment during violence".

Speaking in the council, Gorhe stressed the need for special planning to prevent such incidents in the future and called for enhanced security measures for women police personnel.

"There should be specific provisions to ensure the safety of women police officers, along with adequate training and necessary equipment. Attacks on women police officers are serious and unacceptable. Strict measures will be taken immediately to prevent such incidents," Gorhe said.

Congress slams Mahayuti

The state’s Congress chief Harshvardhan Sapkal on Wednesday slammed the state government for organising dinner parties for elected representatives two days after violence swept Nagpur city.

Presiding officers of both Houses of the state legislature hosted a dinner for elected representatives on the lawns of the legislature complex on Wednesday, while a minister who gives provocative speeches to disturb the communal harmony has organised a party for elected members on Thursday, Sapkal said.

He tagged invitations extended by Minister Nitesh Rane, legislative council Chairperson Ram Shinde, and assembly Speaker Rahul Narwekar.