Nineteen Nagpur riot suspects in police custody until March 21

A court in Nagpur has ordered 19 people accused of participating in recent riots to remain in police custody until March 21. This decision came after the police initially requested a week-long detention for 27 of the 51 accused. The Ganeshpeth police presented the accused in court on Tuesday. The police wish to interrogate them further regarding their involvement in the riots. However, defense lawyers argue that many of those arrested had no role in the violence and claim that some arrests were wrongful. Lawyer Asif Qureshi and others assert that the real culprits were outsiders, not local residents. They also mentioned that many of those detained are middle-aged men while younger individuals were primarily involved in the riots. The court proceedings have faced delays. Defense attorneys criticized the police for not completing necessary formalities, which held up the legal process. The case is likely to see further challenges as discussions about the validity of the arrests continue.