Ram Navami Yatra decorations burned down by Muslim mob amidst Nagpur violence
Nagpur, Maharashtra, India 
16 March, 2025
Case Summary
Tensions flared in Nagpur, Maharashtra, as violence erupted over rumours, including the burning of a copy of the Quran and a photograph, during a protest by Hindu groups demanding the removal of Aurangzeb’s tomb in Sambhaji Nagar. Hindus were the primary target of the violent attacks by the Muslim mob. The violence led to the torching of the decoration materials for the Ram Navami Yatra. One of the eyewitnesses, Chandrakant Kawde, spoke to ANI, stating that the Muslims burnt down the decoration materials for the Ram Navami Yatra. He also said that the police arrived late, almost 30 minutes after the violence had ended. He said, “The decoration material for the Ram Navami Shobha Yatra was dragged with the vehicles and torched.” He also alleged that the violent mob that consisted of around 200 Muslim rioters burnt down his and his brother’s bikes. He also pointed out that the rioters first destroyed the CCTV cameras to avoid identification before setting vehicles on fire. Chandrakant urged the government to provide compensation for their losses. Another eyewitness, Sharad Gupta, also spoke to ANI, stating, “We shouted at them not to burn the vehicles. I tried to douse the fire with a hose, but they hit me with a stone. My two vehicles and several others parked nearby were torched.” He further said that the police did not respond to his calls and only arrived once the violence had ended. A female eyewitness from the violence-affected area described the violent scene, saying, “The mobsters came here with their faces covered with scarves. They carried swords, sticks, and bottles. They started causing chaos, vandalised shops, and pelted stones. Then they dragged the vehicles and torched them.” Another eyewitness, Sunil Peshne, stated that his car was set on fire by the rioters. He recalled that the violence began around 8:30 PM, saying, “A mob of 500-1000 people arrived. They pelted stones at houses and set our car on fire. They vandalised around 25-30 vehicles.” A local Hindu resident, Madhu Pashne, shared a similar account: “They were running around with stones and targeting our homes. They saw children on the upper floor and threw stones at them. They smashed our doors and windows and torched our car. There were around 1,000 rioters.” Another eyewitness, Vansh Kawle, alleged that the Muslim mob members had covered their faces and deliberately damaged CCTV cameras to avoid being identified. An eyewitness who spoke to PTI said that tensions had been building since the morning due to protests over Aurangzeb’s tomb. The unrest continued throughout the afternoon before escalating into full-scale communal violence in the evening. He added that rumours of the Quran burning had triggered the violence, saying, “They came in large numbers, carrying large stones and petrol bombs. They pelted stones, vandalised property, and torched vehicles.” He also stated that Muslim children were part of the mob and were chanting Islamic slogans.
Why it is Hate Crime ?
This case has been added to the tracker under the prime category of- Attack on Hindu religious representations and within this, the sub-category selected is- Desecration of Hindu religious symbol. Icons and symbols or a religious representation of a spiritual ideal are widely revered in Hinduism. Iconography is of vital significance in the Hindu milieu. It helps connect people’s spiritual beliefs with the real world. Iconography within the Hindu faith takes several shapes and forms. Murtis are of most significance to Hindus, to which daily rituals, prayers and offerings are done. Besides the murtis, there are several other symbols which have deep significance in the Hindu faith – the Om and Swastika for example. Since these Hindu religious symbols hold paramount importance in Hinduism, any desecration of symbols, icons, murtis, religious representations and manifestations, is driven by animosity towards the faith itself which manifests itself through these murtis, icons and symbols. Therefore, any desecration of these Hindu religious symbols and representations is considered religiously motivated hate crimes under this category. The deliberate torching of Ram Navami decoration materials by a Muslim mob demonstrates an intentional act of desecration targeting a sacred Hindu festival. Eyewitness accounts confirm that the rioters dragged the decorations along with vehicles before setting them ablaze, underscoring their animosity towards Hindu religious symbols. The mob’s actions were not merely acts of vandalism but calculated efforts to defile Hindu religious representations, as evidenced by their targeted destruction of Hindu properties, homes, and festival-related items. Furthermore, the chanting of Islamic slogans while carrying out the violence, the use of weapons and petrol bombs, and the systematic targeting of Hindu-owned establishments reinforce the religious motivation behind the desecration. The incident reflects a broader pattern of hostility towards Hindu religious symbols, with the attackers aiming to instil fear among Hindus and disrupt their religious celebrations. Given that the fundamental motivation behind these actions is contempt for the Hindu religion, this instance has been added to the tracker under the following category.
Case Status
Unknown
Perpetrators Details
Perpetrators
Muslim Extremists
Perpetrators Range
From 10 to 100
Perpetrators Gender
male
Sources 
