Illegal structures belonging to Shahim Khan, accused in Nagpur communal violence, demolished

Amaravati: The Maharashtra government has cracked down on illegal structures belonging to Shahim Khan, a key accused in the Nagpur communal violence. At 10.30 am on Monday, municipal officials demolished Shahim Khan’s residence and other structures belonging to him with the help of 3 bulldozers. Minority Democratic Party (MDP) leader Shahim Khan has been arrested by the police on charges of sedition and inciting the Nagpur riots.Shahim Khan is currently in jail.

The residence, located in Sanjay Bagh Colony in Nagpur’s Yashodnagar area, is registered in the name of Khan’s wife. They said that the demolition of the buildings was carried out after the NMC issued notices warning against illegal house constructions but no corrective action was taken. The officials stated in the notices that the construction was not carried out as per the rules.

During the protests led by Vishwa Hindu Parishad demanding the removal of Aurangzeb’s tomb in Chhatrapati Shambhajinagar on March 17. The police said in the FIR that a false information was spread on social media that a ‘chadar’ with religious inscriptions was burnt, and that such rumors spread, leading to violence in Nagpur.A total of 33 police personnel, including three Deputy Commissioner of Police rank officers, were injured in the riots as protesters pelted stones and committed arson.

A sedition case has been registered against six people, including Shahim Khan, who was behind the rumors on social media. Their names are also included in the four FIRs registered by the cyber department against nearly 50 accused. Police officials say that 200 accused have been identified in connection with these clashes, and another 1,000 people will be identified based on CCTV footage.