Nagpur violence: ‘Not spontaneous, but pre-planned attack,’ says Maharashtra MLA Pravin Datke

NAGPUR: Central Nagpur MLA Pravin Datke accused the city police of a massive intelligence failure, claiming it allowed a pre-planned attack on Hindu shops and vehicles during the violence in Mahal and adjoining areas on March 17.
Datke, who rushed back from Mumbai—cutting short his attendance at the state legislature’s budget session—alleged that despite the area’s communal sensitivity, police presence was negligible, enabling rioters to target Hindu-owned properties with impunity.
The Mahal area, known for its communal harmony, has witnessed Hindu and Muslim communities living peacefully for decades without any major incidents in recent years. However, Datke alleged that the latest violence was a deliberate attempt to disrupt this coexistence.
While reviewing the situation on March 18, Datke told the media that the morning clash during a religious procession was swiftly controlled by Ganeshpeth police, with arrests made. However, he claimed that the larger-scale violence that erupted in the evening was orchestrated.
"This was not a spontaneous incident but a pre-planned attack. Hindu shops were deliberately set on fire, vehicles were vandalised, and even homes and clinics were stormed. Shockingly, a clinic treating a five-year-old girl was also attacked,” he said.
The MLA alleged that Muslim youths intentionally targeted Hindu establishments, torching vehicles and ransacking businesses. He pointed out that while the area was deserted in the morning, it was suddenly filled with vehicles by evening, raising suspicions of a coordinated assault.
Datke criticised the city police’s lack of preparedness, stating that their poor intelligence gathering and delayed action emboldened the rioters. He revealed that he spoke with senior police officials, including Commissioner of Police Dr Ravindra Kumar Singhal, Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) Crime, and Police Inspector Pandit, demanding strict action against the perpetrators.
Police officer incharge Sanjay Singh of Tehsil police station was not available for 2 hours, Datke claimed and demanded suspension action against him.
Following the violence, Nagpur police imposed a curfew in nine police station limits under Zone 3 and Zone 4 to prevent further escalation. Around 80 to 100 rioters were detained for arson and vandalism.
The curfew order, issued by Police Commissioner Dr Singhal on March 18, will remain in effect until March 28 under Section 163(1)(2)(3) of the Bharatiya Nagrik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS).