Nagpur Violence: Female Police officer Allegedly Molested During Clashes Over Aurangzeb Tomb Row, FIR Registered

An on-duty female police officer was allegedly molested by a man during the violence that erupted in Maharashtra’s Nagpur on March 17. According to a First Information Report (FIR) filed on Wednesday, the incident occurred as the police were attempting to control the chaos caused by arson and vandalism. The violent mob in the Bhaldarpura area allegedly tried to tear the uniform of the female officer and physically molest her.

As reported by NDTV, the female police officer was allegedly cornered by the rowdy crowd and molested, but she was quickly rescued by her fellow officers, who managed to escort her to safety. The Ganeshpeth Police have since registered a case against the mob involved. The FIR also reveals that the accused made obscene gestures and harassed other women, including police personnel, during the riot.

The violence in Nagpur broke out amid the ongoing controversy surrounding the tomb of Mughal emperor Aurangzeb in Aurangabad. The unrest was sparked by rumours claiming a right-wing group had burned a religious book. The chaos quickly spread to the Mahal and Hasanpuri areas of Nagpur, where rioters torched vehicles and damaged public property. Authorities imposed a curfew in several areas of the city and called for peace, while many individuals were detained in connection with the violence.

The FIR, numbered 0115, was filed on March 18 by Jitendra Baburao Gadge, sub-inspector at the Ganeshpeth Police Station, who was on duty from 10 am to 9 pm on Monday. In total, 51 people have been arrested in connection with the violence, and the FIR names 51 accused individuals, with 500-600 unnamed suspects.

On Wednesday, the Judicial Magistrate First Class Court (JMFC) remanded 19 of the accused to police custody until March 21. The Nagpur police presented the accused before the court, seeking further investigation into the case.​