Violence erupted in central Nagpur on Monday with stones hurled at police amid rumours that the holy book of a community was burnt during an agitation by a right-wing body for the removal of Aurangzeb's tomb, officials said.
The police arrested 15 persons during combing operations in various localities in Mahal area.
Earlier, the police fired tear gas shells and resorted to a lathi-charge to disperse the mob in the Mahal area.
Violence also reportedly spread to Kotwali and Ganeshpeth in the late afternoon, officials said.
Deputy Commissioner of Police Niketan Kadam was seriously injured during a combing operation, while two other policemen also sustained injuries.
Officials said the Chitnish Park to Shukrawari Talao road belt was most affected by violence as per the preliminary information, where some four-wheelers were set afire by rioters. Stones were also thrown at the homes of residents.
Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and Union Minister from Nagpur Nitin Gadkari have appealed for peace and harmony in the wake of the violence.
According to the police, the trouble began late afternoon shortly after Bajrang Dal members demonstrated near the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj statue in the Mahal area.
The police said rumours spread that the Quran was burnt during the agitation. Videos of the Bajrang Dal demonstration went viral on social media, leading to outrage among members of the Muslim community.
A complaint was lodged at Ganeshpeth police station in the evening alleging the burning of the holy book.
Following the complaint, a large number of Muslim community members started gathering in various parts of the Mahal area, the police said.
Sensing trouble, the police intensified patrolling and summoned additional security forces to maintain law and order.
An official said stones were thrown at police personnel in Chitnis Park area, following which police fired tear gas shells.
Bajrang Dal office-bearers, however, refuted the allegations and claimed that they had only burned an effigy of Aurangzeb as part of their demonstration.
A senior police official confirmed that security had been tightened in sensitive areas, with Quick Response Teams, riot control police and the State Reserve Police Force being deployed.
Police launched combing operations and arrested 15 persons for violence, an official said, adding that the situation continues to be tense.
Fadnavis has called for calm and asked people not to believe rumours.
'The police are managing the situation following stone pelting and tense situation in the Mahal area,' the chief minister said in a statement.
Fadnavis, who holds the home portfolio, said he is in constant contact with the police and asked them to cooperate with the people.
Gadkari echoed Fadnavis and appealed to people to cooperate with the administration.'Nagpur always has a history of peace. I appeal to all my brothers to maintain peace. Do not believe rumours and do not come on roads,' the Nagpur MP said in a video message.
Maharashtra Congress chief Harshvardhan Sapkal alleged the violence was the failure of the state home department, adding that ministers were 'deliberately making provocative speeches' over the last few days.
'Tensions in the city, stone pelting and arson are the utter failure of the home department. In the last few days, state ministers have been deliberately making provocative speeches to incite violence in society,' Sakpal said in a statement. 'It looks like those efforts have found success in Nagpur.'
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