Those Who Intimidate Muslims Won't Be Spared: Ajit

Maharashtra chief minister Devendra Fadnavis said on Saturday that the government will recover the cost of property damage caused during the recent Nagpur violence from the rioters.

- Agencies

NAGPUR: "If the perpetrators of violence fail to compensate, their properties will be seized and sold to recover the losses," he said.

Addressing the media, he emphasised that strict action would be taken against those who attacked police officers during the unrest.

Fadnavis stressed that the incident cannot be termed "intelligence failure", but the intelligence (gathering) could have been better.

He said 104 individuals have been identified so far, following an analysis of CCTV footage and video recordings. Action has been initiated against 92 people, including 12 minors, as per the law.

Replying to a query whether "bulldozer action" will be initiated against rioters in Nagpur on the lines of Uttar Pradesh, Fadnavis said, "The Maharashtra government has its own style of working...bulldozer will roll when necessary."

"Wherever wrong things are happening, they will be crushed. Nobody (perpetrators) will be spared," he added.

The violence erupted on March 17, after rumours spread that a 'chadar' with religious inscriptions had been burnt during protests led by the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) demanding the removal of Aurangzeb's tomb in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar.