Man Linked To Radical Islamist Group Arrested In Nagpur Riots Case
Faizan Khatib, a suspect linked to a radical Islamist group, was arrested in connection with the Nagpur riots case, the police said.
A suspected member of a radical Islamist outfit was arrested in connection with the March 17 Nagpur riots, following allegations that he instigated a mob in the Mahal area, barely 2 km from the RSS headquarters in the city.
The individual was identified as Faizan Khatib, a resident of Maharashtra’s Akola, but had come to Nagpur for Ramadan and Eid, according to officials.
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He was arrested from his residence, where he had been hiding for the last 10 days, and sent to police custody for two days. He was identified in various CCTV footage from the area where the riots took place.
According to the police, Khatib was seen in a CCTV clip arguing with the police as they attempted to disperse the crowd. His mobile phone could give clues into events and activities leading up to violence in the city.
The police said on Thursday that Khatib had been operating from Akola before arriving in Nagpur for the festival. He had caught the attention of intelligence agencies due to his extreme beliefs. He was accused of inciting unrest near Gandhi Gate in Mahal 18 months ago after eloping with a woman from another community.
He is the third major suspect to be arrested after the detention of two others – Fahim Khan and Hamid Engineer – both of whom have been slapped with charges of sedition and rioting for allegedly propagating inflammatory content using videos before violence broke out on March 17 evening.
While Hamid Engineer and Fahim Khan hold high positions in the Minorities Democratic Party, the police said Khatib is linked to the Islamic Youth Federation, a hardline group that, according to its website, aims to reconnect young people with their religious beliefs.
The riots broke out in Nagpur after right-wing groups demanded the removal of Mughal emperor Aurangzeb’s tomb from Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, leaving one dead, over 40 injured.
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