Huge protests by Dalit groups erupted in Mumbai and other parts of Maharashtra on Tuesday, a day after members of the community were attacked on their way to Bhima-Koregaon in Pune district. One person died and five were injured in Monday’s violence during an event to celebrate the historic “Battle of Bhima Koregoan”, around 40 km from Pune city.
By Tuesday afternoon, agitators with blue flags in hand had disrupted the suburban railways’ Harbour line, jammed the highways, compelled several shops and establishments to shut and vandalised public buses in various parts of Mumbai.
They demanded action against the perpetrators of the Koregaon violence, alleged to be Right-wing groups. Some sections also alleged involvement of upper-caste groups (Marathas).
Late on Tuesday, an FIR was filed against newly-elected Gujarat MLA Jignesh Mevani and student leader Umar Khalid for “inflammatory speeches”, which they delivered at “Yalgar Parishad”, an event preceding the bicentenary celebration. Leaders of two Right-wing groups were also booked on charges of atrocities against Dalits, inciting violence and attempt to murder.
There were reports of demonstrations, widespread stone-pelting and lockdowns in Nashik, Ahmednagar, Aurangabad and other major cities. Meanwhile, a curfew continued in the village of Bhima-Koregaon and surrounding villages — the epicentre of Monday’s violence.
The unrest spreading quickly across Maharashtra with no visible leadership has shocked many, including government agencies. The police were on their toes throughout the day to dispel the anger of protesters. The cops also urged people to maintain peace and ignore “rumours”.
A state-wide bandh has been called on Wednesday by Dalit organisations and Bharipa Bahujan Mahasangh (BBM) leader Prakash Ambedkar, the grandson of Dr BR Ambedkar, to protest against the state government’s “failure” to stop Monday’s violence at Bhima-Koregaon village.
The Communist Party of India and several other outfits have extended support for the bandh. The Shiv Sena has also come down heavily on the government and alleged a “conspiracy” behind the violence.
The development has once again put the Devendra Fadnavis government under the spotlight, which had a tough time last year dealing with the Maratha (so-called upper-caste) agitation.
Sensing trouble, CM Fadnavis has promised a judicial and CID probe into the latest violence.
Right-wing groups behind the mess?
Organisers of Bhima-Koregaon Shauryadin Prerana Abhiyan, a committee which held the Elgaar Parishad on Sunday in which Gujarat MLA Mevani and Radhika Vemula (mother of Rohith Vemula) participated, allege that the clashes were incited by Right-wing outfits.
Siddharth Dhande, deputy mayor of Pune and Republican Party of India (A) leader, said: “The violence was a carefully planned conspiracy by Right-wing Hindutva groups, led by Manohar Bhide and Milind Ekbote from Pune.”
Both Dhande and Ambedkar have alleged that trouble occurred because of Hindu Ekta Aghadi and Shivraj Pratishthan, headed by Ekbote and Sambhaji Bhide, respectively. Villagers were allegedly provoked by Shivraj Pratisthan, while the Hindu Ekta Agadhi hurled stones at people going towards the Koregaon war memorial.
Dhande said: “They influenced the gram panchayat, which illegally took the decision to impose a bandh in Bhima Koregaon on January 1. The decision was taken to stop vehicles and people from going towards the war memorial. This was a mischievous act of the panchayat. The Dalits defied the illegal bandh and went ahead via inner lanes. This was when stones were pelted on them from the houses by the saffron groups.”
The Pimpri police have filed a case against Ekbote, Bhide and others under SC/ST Prevention of Atrocities Act and under various sections of the IPC, including attempt to murder. A woman, Anita Savle, alleged that the entire attack and arson was orchestrated by the two outfits while she and some others were returning from the event on January 1, a police officer said.
What happened in Bhima Koregaon?
Violence in the village Bhima Koregaon erupted during an event on January 1 organised to commemorate the 200th anniversary of the “Battle of Bhima Koregoan”.
Dalits, especially the Mahar community in India, commemorate the British victory as it is believed that soldiers from the community – then considered untouchable – were part of the East India Company’s forces. It is stated that over 500 Mahar soldiers defeated the force of 25,000 well-equipped soldiers of Peshwa Baji Rao-II, ending the Maratha empire.
However, some Right-wing groups in Pune had reportedly opposed celebration of the “British victory”, said a police official.
The celebration is held every year, but since it was the bicentenary of the battle, thousands of Dalits had gathered at the war memorial to mark their “victory” against caste-based oppression of the Peshwas, the “upper caste” community, since the morning of New Year day.
“Dalits from all walks of life were in Bhima Koregaon on January 1, when some people carrying saffron flags came and attacked the people gathered at the war memorial. Since the main roads were blocked, hundreds of people took the bylanes to reach the war memorial. Stones were pelted at them, which led to clashes and widespread violence,” said Rahul Kamble, a witness.
Rahul Fatangale, 28, died in the violence and five others were injured, according to the Pune rural police. Around 40 vehicles, including a police van and two-wheelers, were torched. The clashes also affected Eldine Fernandes, a national award-winning Pune-based sculptor – Rs 50 lakh worth of his paintings, sculptures of the Buddha, and equipment suffered at the hands of protesters, as they torched and vandalised his studio in Bhima Koregaon.
The police claimed the situation was under control on Tuesday, but witnesses said otherwise. “The curfew continues and the situation is still tense as scores of people are still on the roads,” said a teacher from Koregaon.
Flashpoint: Clash on December 29 in another village
Ahead of the Bhima Koregaon clash, on December 29, a clash broke out between Marathas and Dalits in the village of Vadhu Budruk (around 4 km from Bhima Koregaon).
It all started after vandalism of the tomb of Govind Ganapat Gaikwad, a Dalit from the Mahar community, by upper-caste (Maratha) people, allege villagers.
Gaikwad is believed to have performed the final rites – defying Mughal emperor Aurangzeb – of the slain Maratha King Sambhaji (Shivaji’s son). He was killed by the Aurangzeb regime. “The village has tombs of both Sambhaji and Gaikwad and both were vandalized,” said an official.
Deputy mayor Dhande told Newslaundry: “Right-wing Hindutva groups were behind the disfigurement of the tomb of Dalit Govind Gaikwad. The same people then influenced the gram panchayat which imposed an illegal bandh in Bhima Koregaon to keep Dalits away from the celebration, which eventually led to the violence.”
Congress president Rahul Gandhi tweeted: “A central pillar of the RSS/BJP’s fascist vision for India is that Dalits should remain at the bottom of Indian society. Una, Rohith Vemula and now Bhima-Koregaon are potent symbols of the resistance.”
Mevani alleged that the BJP and RSS are “modern day Peshwas”, representing Brahminism in its worst form.
The RSS put out a statement late on Tuesday condemning “recent incidents” as “sad and painful”, and calling for the guilty to be punished. “Some forces are trying to create hatred and animosity among communities,” the outfit said.
काहे का न्यू इयर !!!
दलितों,किसानों और सैनिकों के खून से हुई 2018 की शुरुआत,ऐसे न्यू ईयर में कैसे बनेगा न्यू इंडिया ??— Hardik Patel (@HardikPatel_) January 2, 2018
A central pillar of the RSS/BJP’s fascist vision for India is that Dalits should remain at the bottom of Indian society. Una, Rohith Vemula and now Bhima-Koregaon are potent symbols of the resistance.
— Office of RG (@OfficeOfRG) January 2, 2018
When a battle fought in 1818 sparks a conflict on the streets in 2018 then you ask yourself: is India moving forward or backward? #Bhima-Koregaon
— Rajdeep Sardesai (@sardesairajdeep) January 2, 2018
Following diversions have been affected due to the agitations
1. Vikroli north and south bound diverted to LBS road.
2. JVLR diverted towards Saki Vihar
3. Sion Panvel Highway diverted at Umarshi Bappa Chowk to Jhama Mahal Chowk to Panjrapol #TrafficUpdate— Mumbai Police (@MumbaiPolice) January 2, 2018
Don’t believe in rumours. Traffic on Eastern expressway was affected due to protests. It’s moving now. Traffic at Chembur Naka is still affected. There is nothing to panic. Verify facts with police officers and men before posting anything on social media.
— Mumbai Police (@MumbaiPolice) January 2, 2018
Why the pics are not displayed in above tweet ? pic.twitter.com/4o4LlAm1Qi
— Ravikiran (@scribe_it) January 2, 2018
Not a single main stream media covered #BhimaKoregaon attack properly. I am not shocked or surprised. This bias is rotting our media from years. SHAME.
— nikhil wagle (@waglenikhil) January 2, 2018
So called upper castes are so shameless that they can’t see Dalits celebrating victory of Untouchables over Peshwas under whose rule untouchables’ condition was worse than animals. Upper castes attacked Dalits at Bhima Koregaon today. #Shame
— Ambedkar’s Caravan (@AmbedkarCaravan) January 1, 2018
The rise of Saffron Terrorism under @BJP4India @narendramodi @Dev_Fadnavis
What happened in #BhimaKoregaon is highly condemnable and whole Ambedkarite community will fight back. pic.twitter.com/JLl4JYlc7S— Devashish Jarariya (@jarariya91) January 2, 2018
Maharashtra CM @Dev_Fadnavis orders judicial enquiry for #BhimaKoregaon incident.
Also orders a CID enquiry for the death of a youth & an assistance of ₹10 lakh to his kin.
Strict action will be taken against the all those who are spreading rumours & trying to invoke violence. pic.twitter.com/TvMVVgSWRV— CMO Maharashtra (@CMOMaharashtra) January 2, 2018
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