NAGPUR: The old quarters of Mahal, where history breathes through its narrow lanes and bustling markets, fell into an eerie silence at midnight—broken only by occasional shouts—after an hour of rioting. Hours earlier, on Monday evening, Mahal was ablaze, not just with towering flames but with chaos and hostility that lingered long after the last stone was hurled.
The unrest began in the morning with a protest by VHP and Bajrang Dal demanding the removal of Aurangzeb’s tomb. By dusk, the simmering tension reached its boiling point.
Driving from Agyaram Devi Square to Tilak Putla, the shift was almost imperceptible at first. It felt like a curfew had been imposed. But the moment we turned toward Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Putla Square, the stark reality unfolded—a wall of police vehicles formed an impenetrable barricade. Beyond it, a crowd of over a hundred stood, held back by security forces.
Onlookers gathered at a distance, whispering, stretching their necks, trying to decipher the fear in the air. But no answers came.
A detour from Badkas Square through the restless hum of Chitnis Park Chowk led to Chinavis Square—the heart of the unrest. Here, the echoes of violence still rang through the night. “Violence!” voices cried out. “Why?” they demanded. The streets were littered with stones and bricks, remnants of the clash.
Further ahead, police officers stood in tight formation—helmets secured, batons gripped, faces half-covered with cloth. The sharp sting in the air revealed why—tear gas still lingered, its acrid burn a reminder of the battle fought just hours ago.
Some officers weren’t just ready for another confrontation—they were exhausted from the last. Bandages wrapped around arms, limps barely concealed, yet they remained at their posts. No hospital visits, no time to rest. Just a quick fix, and back into the turmoil.
As the night deepened, so did the fear. More detentions followed. More faces were pulled from the road leading to Agrasen Square. The street ahead lay in darkness—lifeless, yet tense with unspoken dread.
Mahal didn’t sleep that night.
