2018 Bhima Koregaon violence

Last updated

2018 Dalit protests in Maharashtra
Bhima Koregaon protests
Date1 January 2018
Location
Maharashtra, India

18°38′44″N074°03′33″E / 18.64556°N 74.05917°E / 18.64556; 74.05917
Methods Protesting, rock throwing, arson, mobbing
Casualties
Death(s)2
Injuries35
Arrested300
India Maharashtra location map.svg
Red pog.svg

The 2018 battle of Bhima Koregaon refers to violence during an annual celebratory gathering on 1 January 2018 at Bhima Koregaon to mark the 200th anniversary of the Battle of Bhima Koregaon. [1] The violence and stone pelting by a crowd at the gathering resulted in the death of a 28-year old youth and injuries to five others. [2] The annual celebration, also called Elgar Parishad convention, was organised by retired justices B. G. Kolse Patil [3] and P. B. Sawant. [4] Justice Sawant stated that the term "Elgar" meant loud invitation or loud declaration. [5]

Contents

Historical background

Battle of Bhima Koregaon

The 1818 Battle of Koregaon is of importance for Dalits. On 1 January 1818, 800 troops of the East India Company's Bombay Presidency Army which 500 number of Mahars predominant among them, defeated a numerically superior (28,000) force of the Maratha Peshwa Baji Rao II. A victory pillar (Vijay Sthamb) was erected in Koregaon by the British, commemorating the dead soldiers. In 1928, B. R. Ambedkar led the first commemoration ceremony here. Since then, on 1 January every year, Ambedkarites gather at Bhima Koregaon to celebrate their victory against the upper caste regime of the Maratha Empire, whom they see as their oppressors. [6] [7] [8] [9] [10] [5]

Vadhu Budruk trigger

It is believed, Emperor Aurangzeb killed and mutilated Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj in 1689. It is claimed that Govind Mahar, from Vadhu Budruk (a village near Bhima Koregaon) collected the body parts and organised the last rites. The memorial for Sambhaji Maharaj is claimed to have been constructed by the Dalit Mahars of that village. Soon after, Govind Mahar’s tomb was constructed in the village after his death. But Marathas refused to accept the role played by Govind Mahar and other Mahars in the last rites of Sambhaji Maharaj as Marathas of that village do have surname as Shivle (means Stitched), and were increasingly vocal about in the days prior to the January violence at Bhima Koregaon in 2018. They had specific objection to a sign at the site that acknowledged the contributions of the Mahars. [1] [11]

January 2018 events

Prior to the commemoration, about 250 groups of Dalit organizations got together under the banner of "Elgar Parishad" and organised a conference at Shaniwar Wada in Pune, the erstwhile seat of the Peshwas. The speakers included two retired judges, B.G Kolte-Patil and P. B. Sawant, [4] and Jignesh Mevani, a newly elected member of the Gujarat Legislative Assembly.

The equating of Hindutva with the Peshwas is said to have irked the Hindu groups. [6]

On 1 January, like every year, Dalit organizations poured into Bhima Koregaon. Tensions had begun to build in a neighbouring village over the question of which community had conducted the last rites of Maratha ruler Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj – the Mahar or the Maratha. The panchayat of Bhima Koregaon issued a notice asking residents to boycott the event by calling for all shops to remain shut that day. [12]

On 1 January, a mob from Vadhu Badruk area attacked the dalits who were going to attend the annual meeting around the Vijay Stambh. This was after orders were given at Sanaswadi Panchayats for complete strike and celebrate 1 January 2018 as black day. It is alleged that hindutva leaders Milind Ekbote and Sambhaji Bhide had instigated the mob against the Dalit procession. FIRs were subsequently filed against them but no action was taken by the police against them. [13] Dalit organizations blocked roads and started demonstrations across Maharashtra [14] Violence was reported across Pune - a 16-year-old boy was killed during the violence. [15] A Maharashtra bandh was called by Prakash Ambedkar on 3 January 2018. The aftermath consisted of various protests across Maharashtra resulting in 30 policemen being injured and over 300 people being detained. [16] Protests were staged all over Maharashtra. In Mumbai, suburban trains were affected due to which Dabbawalas had to suspend their services. [17]

Aftermath

Fact finding commission

In February 2018, The Maharashtra Home Department set up a fact finding Commission. This Commission became operational in September 2018 and consisted of former Calcutta High Court chief justice JN Patel and state Chief Information Commissioner Sumit Mullick. [32] The tenure of the Commission expired on 8 April 2020 and they had requested for a six month extension.

Arrests

In December 2022, Sub-Divisional Police Officer Ganesh More admitted that the Elgar Parishad event had no role in the violence in an oath before the judicial commission investigating the case. [48]

Independent reports

An Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh backed think tank called Forum for Integrated National Security (FINS), mainly consisting of retired army officers, released a report on the Bhima Koregaon riots. The report absolved the BJP corporator Milind Ekbote and RSS worker Sambhaji Bhide from direct involvement. Instead, it blamed Maoists (ultra left-wing organisations) for instigating the Dalit activists. It also blamed the Maharashtra Police for "apathy" and overlooking evidence. [49] [50] [51] [52] Analysis shows that the Pune police made claims in Court which resemble the FINS report. [53] In contrast, the report by the multi-member "fact finding committee" led by deputy mayor Siddharth Dhende submitted that right-wing activists Sambhaji Bhide and Milind Ekbote had pre-planned the entire violence. [54] The report by the Rashtra Seva Dal (RSD) questioned how the right wing activists who were initially named in the FIR were still able to give interviews while a divisive environment was being created. The RSD also called for a judicial enquiry to hold the administration accountable for any lapses. [55]

Forensic analysis by Arsenal Consulting, a Massachusetts-based digital forensics firm, revealed that incriminating evidence, including the letter to assassinate the prime minister Narendra Modi, found on Surendra Gadling and Rona Wilson's computers was planted there by an attacker by the use of phishing email. Security firm SentinelOne said that they have found a 'provable connection' between the evidence fabrication to the Pune police. [56] [57] [58] The Washington Post reported in December 2022 that hackers had planted evidence on Stan Swamy's computer as well. [59]

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References

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  2. ↑ "Dalits protest death of 28-year-old in Bhima Koregaon clashes". Hindustantimes. 2 January 2018. ISSN   0971-751X . Retrieved 2 January 2018.
  3. ↑ Staff, The Wire. "'Pune ATS Spreading Panic in My Neighbourhood': Justice (Retd) B. G. Kolse Patil". The Wire. The Wire. Retrieved 25 October 2020.
  4. 1 2 Katakam, Anupama (22 August 2020). "Elgar Parishad case: Victims of vendetta". Frontline. Retrieved 25 October 2020.
  5. 1 2 Aarefa Johari, Abishek Dey, Mridula Chari & Shone Satheesh, From Pune to Paris: How a police investigation turned a Dalit meeting into a Maoist plot, Scroll.in, 1 September 2018.
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  47. ↑ "Elgar Parishad case: Supreme Court lifts stay on Bombay High Court order of bail to Navlakha". The Hindu. 14 May 2024. ISSN   0971-751X . Retrieved 11 September 2024.
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  51. ↑ ‘Maoists call urban mass organisations weapons … battle is for control of civil society through subversion’ (Interview of Smita Gaikwad), The Times of India, The Interviews Blog, 2 May 2018.
  52. ↑ Kiran Tare, Gunning for Maoists, India Today, 10 May 2018.
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