Nagpur's Gittikhadan Area Erupts in Political Violence Before Polling
The Gittikhadan area in Nagpur turned into a major flashpoint during the final hours before voting began on Thursday morning. Supporters of the Bharatiya Janata Party and the Congress party engaged in dramatic clashes that escalated tensions across the neighborhood.
Massive Security Deployment and Police Response
Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis issued strong condemnation of the violent incidents. His statement came as authorities ordered massive security reinforcements throughout the affected zones.
State Reserve Police Force units moved into the Gorewada region within Gittikhadan police limits. Nagpur police significantly intensified their vigilance across Gittikhadan and other sensitive pockets of the city.
Police Commissioner Ravinder Singal personally visited the affected areas to assess the situation. Joint Commissioner Navinchandra Reddy confirmed that law and order had been successfully restored. This restoration allowed polling activities to proceed peacefully despite the earlier disturbances.
Serious Attack on BJP Candidate in Early Hours
The most serious incident occurred during the early hours of Thursday in Gorewada. BJP sitting corporator and candidate Bhushan Shingne reportedly faced an ambush by more than one hundred people.
BJP leaders described the assault as life-threatening. They stated that attackers used weapons during the confrontation. The attack left Shingne with serious injuries that required immediate medical attention.
Authorities rushed the victims to a nearby hospital for treatment. Police registered a First Information Report at the Gittikhadan police station. The FIR included serious charges such as attempt to murder and rioting against the perpetrators.
Chain of Events Leading to Violence
The tensions began building on Tuesday night in Jagdish Nagar, which falls under Prabhag 14D. Supporters of Congress candidate Abhijit Jha allegedly chased and confronted two BJP workers in that area.
The BJP workers had been distributing anti-Congress pamphlets after official campaigning hours. The Congress supporters cornered the workers and tore their campaign materials. Police registered a non-cognisable offence following this initial confrontation.
Tensions escalated further on Wednesday morning in Qutubshah Nagar within Prabhag 10. BJP leaders Bawankule and Parinay Fuke encountered Congress candidate Pramod Thakur during this incident.
Thakur accused the BJP leaders of conducting illegal campaigning beyond permitted hours. The standoff between the groups grew increasingly heated as supporters from both sides clashed. Police intervention became necessary to separate the conflicting parties and restore order.
Political Condemnation and Electoral Context
Chief Minister Fadnavis strongly condemned the violence as what he called a blot on democracy. He further described the incidents as an assault on democracy itself.
The Chief Minister accused Congress workers of resorting to brutality because they sensed impending defeat in the elections. He directed police to conduct swift follow-up actions against those responsible for the violence.
Fadnavis emphasized that such acts would not deter the BJP from its political activities. He asserted that voters would deliver appropriate justice through their ballots at the polling stations.
Polling Proceeds Amid Enhanced Security
Despite these pre-poll flare-ups, authorities maintained control through enhanced security measures. Police implemented increased patrolling and riot control preparations throughout sensitive areas.
Polling continued under heavy security arrangements in both Gittikhadan and Gorewada. The areas remained tense throughout the voting process, but no major disruptions occurred during the actual polling hours.
The violence highlighted the intense political rivalry in several key wards, particularly around Prabhag 11. Both parties have invested significant resources and energy into these municipal elections, contributing to the heightened tensions that erupted into physical confrontations.
