Maharashtra’s Nashik city turned into a war zone on the night of April 15 as a violent Islamist mob clashed with police over the court-ordered demolition of an illegal dargah structure. What started as a lawful municipal action—backed by local trustees and civic authorities—spiraled into chaos, injuring over 30 police personnel and damaging government vehicles. Disturbingly, local leaders affiliated with AIMIM (All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen), Congress, NCPSP (Nationalist Congress Party – Sharad Pawar faction), and SSUBT (Samajwadi Samata United Bahujan Tigers) have been arrested in connection with the orchestrated violence, raising explosive questions over the role of the opposition-led I.N.D.I Alliance in enabling communal unrest across India.
Local leaders of MIM, Congress, NCPSP and SSUBT arrested for Nashik violence.
Does it mean the INDI alliance is collaborating with groups like MIM to incite violence across India? pic.twitter.com/tzXaHuMsYH
— पाकीट तज्ञ (@paakittadnya) April 18, 2025
While law enforcement agencies have yet to name any national-level politicians, the fact that local leaders affiliated with I.N.D.I Alliance parties are being apprehended raises serious alarm. In multiple recent instances, mobs that turned violent in Muslim-dominated localities were found to have received encouragement or support from political operatives aiming to destabilise the administration and polarise the voter base.
As of now, 21 individuals have been arrested, and FIRs are being registered against all those identified via CCTV footage, mobile location data, and eyewitness accounts. Nashik Police has assured that more arrests are imminent, including of those who provided logistical and ideological support to the riot.
Vehicle movement near the Kathe Galli area remains restricted until April 18 as the situation remains tense but under control. Maharashtra Chief Minister and Union Home Ministry have taken note of the incident, and intelligence inputs are being reviewed for potential links to larger anti-national networks.
The flashpoint was the demolition of the Satpeer Dargah structure in Nashik’s Dwarka locality, declared illegal by the Bombay High Court. Despite a formal notice issued by the Nashik Municipal Corporation (NMC) on April 1 demanding the shrine’s removal within 15 days, no voluntary action was taken by the dargah authorities. Following the court order, a municipal team accompanied by police forces arrived to execute the demolition late on April 15.
According to Nashik Police Commissioner Sandeep Karnik, “The entire process was conducted as per legal norms. A strong police deployment was in place to prevent any untoward incident. But a violent mob gathered to oppose the removal and pelted stones at both the police and community leaders trying to mediate.”
Adding to the gravity of the situation, Deputy Commissioner of Police Kiran Kumar Chavan confirmed that “31 police officers were injured in the stone-pelting,” and over 57 two-wheelers used in the attack were seized. Three police vehicles were damaged, and tear gas shells and lathi-charges had to be employed to disperse the mob.
Despite the trustees of the dargah and local citizens cooperating with the authorities, a sudden surge of over 400 protestors emerged from Usmania Chowk—an area identified with politically-backed mobilisation. As confirmed by law enforcement, leaders of political parties including AIMIM, Congress, NCPSP, and SSUBT were present on the ground and have been arrested for inciting the mob and obstructing police action.
It is worth reiterating that the demolition was carried out not as part of any religiously motivated campaign but under the directive of the Bombay High Court. On February 22, similar encroachments were cleared from the Kathe Galli area along the Pune highway. Hindu community members had also raised objections against the unauthorised construction. Nashik Central BJP MLA Devyani Pharande reiterated that the dargah structure was illegal and that the anti-encroachment drive was being carried out uniformly.
Despite this, misinformation was rapidly spread, reportedly through social media and local WhatsApp groups, triggering the midnight unrest. Taking advantage of a sudden power outage, the mob began attacking the demolition team with stones, endangering the lives of municipal workers and law enforcement alike.
