Police Keep Vigil As Protests Staged Across Vidarbha Over Delhi Clashes | Nagpur News

Nagpur/Amravati/Akola: Police intensified security across Nagpur and parts of Vidarbha on Thursday when demonstrations were held over alleged irregularities in NEET examination and clashes between protesters and Delhi Police at Jantar Mantar earlier this week.Nearly 300 protesters faced police action in Nagpur and Amravati, mostly under bailable provisions, as authorities sought to prevent unrest amid a series of political agitations. In Akola, around 230 to 250 protesters were taken into preventive custody and released 4 hours later.Nagpur police deployed nearly 2,000 personnel. CP Vishwas Nangre Patil, joint commissioner Navinchandra Reddy and senior officers maintained live surveillance of Samvidhan Square, while the police control room and commissioner’s office functioned as operational command centres with armed personnel, commandos and special response vehicles.The Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi (VBA) called a state-wide bandh on Thursday. It was supported by Shiv Sena (UBT), Congress and NCP (Sharad Pawar faction). Although the bandh evoked a limited response in Nagpur, sporadic demonstrations were held at Indora, Ajni, Samvidhan Square and Wadi.On Thursday, police detained around 120 VBA workers in Nagpur, while nearly 40 protesters led by social worker Yash Gourkhede were briefly detained a day earlier after allegedly assembling without permission at Samvidhan Square. Four criminal cases were registered over separate unauthorised protests, with investigations continuing through CCTV footage and statements.Officials said protests organised earlier by Congress, Bharatiya Yuva Morcha and other groups on Wednesday also attracted cases of unlawful assembly. Senior officers said spontaneous protests without official approval could disrupt public order.Additional security arrangements included intensified vehicle checks, nakabandis, mobile patrols and quick response teams at locations such as Sitabuldi, Dharampeth and other areas.Amravati Range Inspector General of Police Mahesh Patil reviewed security deployment in Akola. FIRs were registered at Khadan Police Station and Murtizapur City Police Station over allegations of forcing traders to close their shops, according to Akola SP Archit Chandak.In Amravati, most businesses remained open in city, Daryapur and Achalpur. VBA workers staged protest and marched to the district collector’s office.In Teosa, the bandh was backed by an all-party coalition and several social organisations, leading to the closure of most markets.Office-bearers from Congress, VBA, NCP (SP), CPI, Shiv Sena, Prahar Janshakti Party, MNS, Kisan Majdoor Sangha, Bharatiya Bauddha Mahasabha and Left parties addressed a meeting in Amravati before some protesters attempted to block a national highway. Police detained the demonstrators and later released them.