NAGPUR: A day after violent clashes shook Mahal, the usually lively streets of Chitnis Park fell eerily silent on Tuesday. The aftermath of the mayhem was evident—burnt vehicles, shattered glass, and stones littered the lanes, marking a neighbourhood scarred by mob violence. Residents remained indoors, too fearful to step outside.
Swati Dahekar, a homemaker, recalled the fear she felt while picking up her teenage daughter from tuition. “The mob wouldn’t allow the auto to enter our lane. They threatened the driver and forced him to turn back,” she said. As they rushed home, the crowd swelled, and soon after, rioters stormed the street, hurling stones and destroying property. “We barely managed to get inside before they reached our house. My husband wasn’t home, and we had to barricade ourselves inside. They vandalised our car and two-wheeler, kicking at our doors in anger,” she said, still shaken.
Similar incidents unfolded throughout the area. Raju Peshne, another resident, described seeing a mob of 50 men launching petrol bombs and torching vehicles. “They rampaged through the streets, shouting abuses and slogans. At least 15-17 vehicles, including two-wheelers, were set on fire,” he recounted.
Harshal Ghate, a shop owner near Chitnis Park, witnessed the violence firsthand. “Around 5:30 pm, I noticed a large group gathering. Later, when police dispersed them, they rushed toward our shop. Within minutes, they started throwing stones, breaking our glass windows. We had to shut our store immediately,” he said.
Survivors battle for their lives
Among those critically injured in the violence was 40-year-old welder Imran Ansari, who was brought to IGGMCH’s emergency ward around midnight in a police van alongside injured officers. He had suffered a fractured leg and stab wounds on his skull and back. His blood pressure remained unstable, requiring ventilator support.
Ansari’s relatives learned of his condition only upon reaching the hospital. His brother, Rizwan, insisted he was not involved in any form of aggression. “He is a religious man, wears a beard, and follows the Tablighi Jamaat. He was on his way to Itarsi for work when we lost contact with him,” he said. Their mother, too, was in shock. “He had iftar at home, then went for taraweeh prayers before stepping out to buy milk. At midnight, we received a call saying he was found injured near Hansapuri,” she recalled.
A 17-year-old HSC student, Raza Yousuf Khan, was also among the injured. His mother, Reena, refuted claims of his involvement in the riots. “My son was at home when this happened. He is being treated by doctors, and his condition is serious,” she said.
Angry residents demand justice
Following the violence, residents from Old Hislop College area and Ram Mandir Lane met with guardian minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule, urging stringent action against rioters and compensation for damages. Their homes and vehicles had been vandalised and torched by mobs that stormed the locality, chanting slogans and attacking places of worship. Many accused the police of failing to control the situation.
“Despite early warnings, the rioters continued their rampage. Instead of stopping them when they first started gathering, police let them swell in numbers. Innocent residents were left at their mercy,” said Bhushan Ghui.
A history of harmony
Mahal, an area deeply rooted in communal harmony for over two centuries, is home to both temples and mosques, where people of different faiths have coexisted peacefully. However, Monday’s violence raised concerns, with local MLA Pravin Datke attributing the unrest to “outsiders.”
Echoing this sentiment, Ravindra Fadnavis, president-trustee of Hindu Mulinchi Shala, said, “Mahal has always had a unique culture where different communities live in peace. This violence seems to have been instigated by outsiders.”
Irfan Ali, president of the Mahal Masjid Trust, who has lived near the RSS headquarters since the 1970s, agreed. “In all these decades, we have never faced any issues. This incident hasn’t changed our relationship with our neighbours. We all know outsiders were responsible for this,” he said.
Even as the city struggles to make sense of the chaos, residents of Mahal hold onto the hope that the peace they have long cherished will not be permanently shattered.
