Nagpur riot-hurt dies; CM Devendra Fadnavis says vandals must pay up | India News

NAGPUR: A 38-year-old welder died Saturday from wounds suffered in Monday night’s riots in Nagpur, becoming the first fatality linked to the violence over demands to remove Mughal emperor Aurangzeb’s tomb from Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar.
Sources said Irfan Shafiq Ahmed Ansari from Bande Garib Nawaz Nagar was caught in the crossfire while heading to Itwari station. His family demanded murder charges against rioters and compensation. CM Devendra Fadnavis promised strict action against rioters, including recovering the cost of property damage from them.
Fadnavis hints at Malegaon link to Nagpur riots, says int’l elements’ role being probed
Irfan Shafiq Ahmed Ansari, who was injured in the crossfire during the Nagpur riots, was found critically wounded and was taken by senior inspector Sanjay Singh to a hospital. Govt covered medical expenses of Ansari.
Two men accused in Ansari’s assault have been arrested. CM Devendra Fadnavis promised strict action against rioters and stone-throwers, including recovering the cost of property damage from them. “We will survey the damages and pay compensation to those whose vehicles or properties were damaged. The money will be disbursed in a week, but we will ensure it’s collected from the rioters,” he said. “If they fail to pay up, their properties will be seized and sold to recover losses.”
Fadnavis reviewed the law-and-order situation in affected areas and suggested a connection between the Nagpur riots and Malegaon, saying authorities were investigating involvement of international elements. He said PM Modi’s scheduled visit to Nagpur for Gudi Padwa would proceed as planned.
Police arrested alleged riot mastermind Fahim Khan’s mentor M Hamid Engineer, president of Minorities Democratic Party, and web portal journalist Mohd Shahzad. Both were held late Friday night for allegedly inciting the riots and charged with sedition.
Police sources said Engineer has provided leads regarding the Malegaon link mentioned by Fadnavis. Engineer, a long-time figure in minority politics, had allegedly flooded social media with inflammatory posts before the riots.
His online appeal for contributions to “Mujahideen” raised speculation about his role in inciting violence in Nagpur. Engineer had been arrested earlier in 2011 for his alleged role in the Mominpura mob violence. Shahzad had circulated a speech by Khan that went viral. Both men were remanded in police custody for three days.
A special committee from opposition Congress accused state govt and police of conducting a biased investigation, alleging that groups affiliated with the governing alliance were receiving “silent support” to incite violence.
The delegation was denied permission Saturday to visit the riot-affected areas and warned of legal action if they defied the order. “CM says it was a conspiracy. If so, then what was your law-and-order machinery doing? CM must resign, or the governor must dismiss this govt,” Congress’ Manikrao Thakre said.