Tensions flared in the Kathe Galli area of Nashik’s Dwarka locality late on Tuesday as a municipal demolition drive targeting an allegedly illegal dargah led to violent clashes. A mob, taking advantage of a power outage, pelted stones at the civic team and police personnel, injuring at least 15 people and damaging five vehicles.
The Nashik Municipal Corporation (NMC) had issued a notice on 1 April, declaring the structure unauthorised and directing its voluntary removal within 15 days. After no action was taken by the deadline, civic authorities, accompanied by a police contingent, moved in on Wednesday to carry out the demolition, citing a court order that had deemed the dargah illegal.
Officials said the situation turned violent shortly after midnight, as misinformation spread rapidly, drawing a crowd of over 400 people. “Despite the presence of 500 police personnel, the crowd resorted to stone-pelting,” said a senior official, adding that tear gas was deployed to bring the situation under control.
According to the authorities, four municipal workers and 11 police personnel sustained injuries in the attack. In response to the unrest, Nashik Police have altered traffic routes in and around the Dwarka area as a precautionary measure.
The demolition follows previous municipal action in the area. On 22 February, the NMC had removed encroachments involving several unauthorised religious structures. The subsequent legal proceedings led to a court ruling that declared the dargah illegal and ordered its removal.
Religious tensions and prior protests
The dargah had earlier become a flashpoint for communal tensions. In February, the Sakal Hindu Samaj, a right-wing group, had demanded the demolition of the dargah and proposed the construction of a Hanuman temple at the site. The group had called for a large protest on 22 February, prompting authorities to impose a curfew and deploy additional police forces. Several Hindu religious leaders were detained as a preventive measure.
The fresh violence comes amid ongoing disputes over religious encroachments and the use of public land for places of worship. While authorities maintain they are acting in accordance with court directives, the recurring unrest underscores the volatile intersection of law enforcement, religion, and public sentiment in the region.
There has been no official confirmation on whether further demolitions are scheduled in the area. Police are expected to remain deployed in strength until the situation stabilises.
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