Aurangabad city witnessed a chaotic scene during the 'Hindu Jan Garjana Morcha' organized by the Sakal Hindu Samaj (SHS) in support of the renaming of the city to Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar. The rally was also focused on demands regarding cow slaughter, love jihad, and conversion. Despite being denied permission by the police, thousands of SHS activists, including Cooperation Minister Atul Save and members of right-wing outfits like the BJP, RSS, and VHP, marched towards Kranti Chowk, chanting slogans like 'Jai Shivaji, Jai Bhawani.'
During the rally, extremist elements began pelting stones on public properties, damaging shops, and tearing down posters and banners with the 'love Aurangabad' name. The police were reportedly standing silent and watching the chaos unfold. The municipal toilet at Aurangpura was targeted, and the protesters threw mud on the Aurangabad name there. The Aurangabad board at the bus stop of Saraswati Bhuvan College was smashed, and the bus schedule board at the next stop was removed and thrown into the mud. Additionally, the protesters pelted stones at the name of Aurangabad on the branch of Axis Bank.
Former Chairperson of Women and Child Welfare Committee of Zilla Parishad, Anuradha Chavan, broke the digital board of 'I Love Aurangabad' near the pyramid at SBI Chowk on CIDCO Chowk to Harsul road. A statue of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj was installed in Kranti Chowk a year ago, and MP Imtiaz Jalil's name was on the corner next to the fourth. During the march, some attendees tried to erase Jalil's name by spilling ink from a pen.
After the speech given by BJP MLA Rajasinh Thakur, some youths pelted stones from the Shiv Sena Bhavan, causing further chaos. The police detained two stone pelters. After the march, heavy police force was deployed at various locations in the city, including Aurangpura, Nirala Bazar, Sillekhana Chowk, Paithan Gate, Kranti Chowk, and SBI Chowk.
The incident has raised concerns about the growing trend of using rallies and protests to incite violence and create chaos. The police have promised to take strict action against the perpetrators and maintain law and order in the city.