Nagpur, March 17 -- Maharashtra Minority Commission Chairman Pyare Khan has termed the recent violence in Nagpur's Mahal area as "very unfortunate," urged people to maintain peace, and claimed that those responsible were not locals but outsiders who came to create unrest in a city known for its communal harmony.

"This is a very unfortunate incident, and such violence should not have happened in Nagpur, a place known for its saints. During Ram Navami, Muslims here set up tents to welcome Hindus. There is a Dargah where people from all religions--Hindus, Muslims, Sikhs, and Christians--come to pray," Khan said.

He alleged that the violence was caused by anti-social elements from outside the city. "The people involved in this violence are ...