Special Correspondent
Nagpur: The police have arrested Minority Democratic Party (MDP) executive chairman Hamid Engineer and YouTuber Mohammad Shahzad Khan in connection with the recent Nagpur riots. The investigation, which included a review of social media accounts, revealed that the violence was allegedly planned in advance.
On the morning of March 17, Hamid Engineer reportedly called for donations for “Mujahideen.” When questioned, he claimed that the funds were meant for the people of Gaza. The alleged mastermind behind the violence, Faheem Khan, is also a leader of Hamid’s party.
The police are now focusing on identifying and arresting individuals involved in the riots. Intelligence agencies are assisting in tracking down the accused. On Friday evening, Police Commissioner Dr. Ravindra Singhal held a meeting with senior officers to assess the situation and emphasized restoring peace in the city.
With the latest arrests, the total number of people detained has risen to 105, including 10 minors. The violence in Mahal, particularly in the Hansapuri area on March 17, caused significant damage. A preliminary assessment by the district administration reported that 61 vehicles were vandalized during the riots.
Police have also found that social media played a crucial role in spreading the violence. Since then, a cyber police team, led by Deputy Commissioner Lohit Matani, has been investigating social media accounts linked to the incident.
