Pune police nab 28 more after January 1 violence
During the violence, Rahul Fantangale (28) was killed near Sanaswadi.
Mumbai: The Pune district police arrested 28 more people between Monday and Tuesday, including three minors, in connection with the January 1 caste clashes that broke out in and around the Bhima Koregaon village in which a youth was killed. The police had earlier arrested 15 persons in connection with the incident.
The violence occurred during the bicentennial event to commemorate the Bhima Koregaon battle in which British imperial forces comprising dalits had defeated the Maratha army of the Peshwa.
“On Monday, we arrested 12 people, including three minors and on Tuesday we arrested 16, for allegedly vandalising vehicles on road in villages adjoining Bhima Koregaon. Those arrested are from both the communities (dalit and Maratha). We are studying CCTV footage to check their activity and how this violence exactly occurred,” said Pune district superintendent of police Suvez Haque.
During the violence, Rahul Fantangale (28) was killed near Sanaswadi. “We are investigating Fantangale’s death. We will get details of the incident from those who have been arrested. We are on right track and will soon arrest some more people,” said an investigating officer.
The police has booked six members of the Kabir Kala Manch, a radical cultural group, for making “provocative” remarks during the Elgar Parishad (conference) held at Shaniwarwada, Pune on December 31, a day ahead of the Bhima Koregaon violence.
The conference was attended by Dalit MLA from Gujarat, Jignesh Mevani, JNU student leader Umar Khalid, (late) Rohit Vemula's mother Radhika Vemula, and Bharip Bahujan Mahasangh president Prakash Ambedkar.
The police has booked Mr Mevani and Mr Khalid for making provocative speeches and creating a rift between two communities. The Pune rural police had registered an FIR against right-wing leaders Milind Ekbote and Sambhaji Bhide (aka Guruji) under SC/ST Prevention of Atrocities Act and under various sections of the IPC including attempt to murder in connection with the caste clashes.