Koregaon Bhima violence a matter of ‘larger conspiracy’: State tells Inquiry Commission

The Commission has recorded grounds of implicit 50 witnesses, who see villagers from Koregaon Bhima, Vadhu Budruk, elder politicians similar Sharad Pawar, Prakash Ambedkar, authorities and constabulary officials and different persons. The Commission has asked lawyers representing antithetic parties and witnesses to taxable their last arguments. Some parties person blamed Hindutva leaders Milind Ekbote and Sambhaji Bhide for Koregaon Bhima unit connected January 1, 2018, portion different parties person placed the blasted connected organisers of Elgaar Parishad, the conclave held successful Pune connected December 31, 2017, to commemorate the 200th day of conflict of Koregaon Bhima. Police person alleged that Elgaar Parishad was allegedly held arsenic per a CPI-Maoist strategy.

VV Palnitkar, the Commission’s caput said that during hearings conducted successful Pune from October 22 to 24, the authorities has submitted its last arguments orally done peculiar nationalist authoritative Hiray. The written arguments volition beryllium submitted successful the adjacent hearings, Palnitkar said.

Advocate Hiray said that successful his arguments helium told the committee astir the alleged relation of Elgaar Parishad successful mobilising and provoking people. Hiray submitted details of the lawsuit registered by the authorities anti-terrorism squad (ATS) successful January 2018, successful which persons allegedly linked to the banned CPI-Maoist were arrested and worldly related to Elgaar Parishad was seized from their possession. Hiray pointed retired that an accused successful this lawsuit was recovered to beryllium a subordinate of the Bhima Koregaon Shauryadin Prerna Abhiyaan — a committee that had organised Elgaar Parishad.

Hiray besides made submissions successful transportation with the quality astatine the Vadhu Budruk colony (4 km from Koregaon Bhima), known for the samadhi of legendary king Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj.

The colony besides has a disputed tomb-like structure, which the Dalit Mahar assemblage claims is the samadhi of Govind Gopal Dhegoji Meghoji, a 17th period figure. Marathas from Vadhu Budruk colony judge it was their ancestors, the Shivale Deshmukhs, who had defied Aurangzeb’s orders and performed the past rites of Sambhaji Maharaj aft helium was killed by the Mughal emperor successful 1689. The Dalit Mahar community, however, claims that Govind Gopal performed the past rites of the king.

Hiray said helium pointed retired the alleged relation of a subordinate of Bhima Koregaon Shauryadin Prerna Abhiyaan successful putting up the committee with disputed past astatine Vadhu Budruk (on the intervening nighttime of December 28 and 29, 2017), which caused the “discord”.

Hiral besides submitted details of enactment taken by constabulary against Hindutva person Milind Ekbote, who was arrested successful cases related to Koregaon Bhima unit connected March 14, 2018, aft his anticipatory bail was rejected by Supreme Court. Police did not spare anyone, said Hiray.

As per constabulary records, Ekbote had held a property league successful Koregaon Bhima country connected December 30, 2017, erstwhile helium issued a enactment opposing the lawsuit to people the Koregaon Bhima conflict anniversary, claiming it was divisive and against the thoughts of Dr BR Ambedkar. It was alleged that the ‘pamphlet (note)’ fixed by Ekbote was portion of a conspiracy to origin unit connected January 1. A peculiar tribunal successful Pune had granted bail to Ekbote successful April 2018 saying the enactment done by the accused was “in consonance of state of code and look guaranteed nether the Indian Constitution.”

Meanwhile, connected Thursday, referring to affidavits and depositions chiefly of constabulary officers who were injured portion tackling the Koregaon Bhima riot, Hiray submitted to the committee that indispensable steps were taken by the constabulary for controlling the January 1 violence.

Hiray besides made submissions astir the unfortunate Rahul Phatangade, who was wearing a overgarment with an representation of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj erstwhile helium was killed by a mob during the January 1 violence.