Nagpur violence: 54 held; police searching for mastermind, says minister

Police have so far arrested 54 people in connection with the Nagpur violence while a search is on to trace the mastermind Maharashtra minister Yogesh Kadam said on Wednesday stressing that attacks on police personnel will be dealt with strictly reported news agency PTIThe Minister of State for Home told reporters that the strictest action would be taken against the perpetrators of violence and the fear of the law would be instilled54 people have been arrested in connection with Nagpur violence They dared to attack policemen We will show what is meant by police fear They will not be spared Kadam told reportersHe said the government would ensure that the police morale is not affected adding that instructions have been given to take the strictest actionPolice are looking for the mastermind behind the Nagpur violence Kadam said and warned of action against those circulating wrong videos on social media reported PTIThirtythree police personnel including three DCPrank officers were injured on Monday night when mobs went on a rampage damaging vehicles hurling petrol bombs and stones at police and attacking housesRumours about a chadar with holy inscriptions being burnt during protests led by VHP for the removal of Aurangzebs tomb located in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar district was the prima facie trigger for violenceSome rioters allegedly touched a woman constable inappropriately and tried to disrobe her during the violence as per an FIRIntelligence failure led to Nagpur violence Oppn attacks Maharashtra govtOpposition parties on Wednesday questioned the Maharashtra government over the law and order situation in the state and said it could not prevent the violence in Nagpur due to its intelligence failure reported PTINagpur city witnessed violence on Monday night as stones were hurled at police amid rumours that the holy book of a community was burnt during a Vishwa Hindu Parishads agitation seeking the removal of Aurangzebs tomb located in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar districtSpeaking in the legislative assembly Leader of Opposition Vijay Wadettiwar said Nagpur is the home turf of Chief Minister Devendra FadnavisWho lit the fire there If the violence was preplanned what happened was due to the intelligence failure Police were nowhere to be seen for oneandahalf hours after the violence broke out he alleged reported PTISpeaking on budgetary demands of the home department in the state assembly Wadettiwar wondered why no action was being taken against a state minister despite his provocative statementsWhy is he not asked to resign the Congress leader sought to know reported PTIEarlier BJP MLA Pravin Datke who represents the Nagpur Central assembly constituency said through a point of information in the House that women constables were molested during the violenceParticipating in the debate Shiv Sena UBT leader Bhaskar Jadhav expressed concern over the law and order situation in the stateKidnapping sexual assault cases have risen Former Shiv Sena corporator Abhishek Ghosalkar was killed in broad daylight Former minister Baba Siddique was also gunned down he saidWith inputs from PTI