In Nagpur Violence case, Fahim Khan, a 38-year-old burqa seller and son of a cycle repair shop owner, was arrested during a pre-dawn raid at his Yashodhara Nagar residence on Tuesday. Khan, who garnered 1,000 votes against Union Minister Nitin Gadkari in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, is a founder-member of the Minorities Democratic Party, affiliated with the Sunni Youth Force active in Chhattisgarh and Madhya Pradesh since 2019.
A college dropout formerly engaged in CCTV repair, Khan led a group of protesters to the Ganeshpeth police station to file a complaint against Bajrang Dal and Vishwa Hindu Parishad activists, who had burned an effigy at Aurangzeb’s grave on Monday. After exiting the police station, Khan recorded a video alleging police bias towards right-wing activists and criticizing the minority commission chairman for aligning with the government. The video rapidly circulated across the city, which police claim inflamed communal tensions.
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Authorities report that Khan’s video had a polarizing effect, leading to gatherings that escalated into unrest in the Mahal area. Known for his vigorous advocacy of minority rights, Khan has previously organized several protests in Nagpur against alleged objectionable comments on religion.
Since the outbreak of violence on Monday evening, police have arrested 71 suspects, including Khan. Law enforcement continues to monitor the situation closely to prevent further escalation.
