Bhima Koregaon violence

Milind Ekbote

Sambhaji Bhide

Witnesses summoned by Bhima Koregaon Commission object to Milind Ekbote’s presence in hearing room The two witnesses, who haven’t deposed yet, said accused Milind Ekbote and his team of lawyers were allowed to sit inside the hearing room while other witnesses deposed — but they were not

Dharmavir Sambhaji Maharaj Smruti Samiti

We have given proof that it was pre-planned violence, and had nothing to do with the Elgar Parishad, as had been alleged. The history of Bhima Koregaon and surrounding areas shows that Dalits and Marathas did not previously have animosity. But Bhide and Ekbote twisted the historical narrative to create communal tension. We have mapped a chronology to establish the involvement of Hindutva forces. Dr Siddharth Dhende, Pune Deputy Mayor

Bhima Koregaon hearing: Milind Ekbote’s lawyer badgers witness about 1818 battle Lawyer Niteen Pradhan asks eyewitness Tanaji Sable, a bus conductor, why he had visited Bhima Koregaon on January 1, and questions him about the significance of names on its war memorial.

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A fact-finding report by a nine-member team has concluded that theon January 1 this year was “preplanned”. Blaming the police for inaction, the report also points to a conspiracy, stating that over a period of 15 years,and, both leaders of Hindutva outfits, had helped create an atmosphere that ultimately led to the riots.The report was submitted to the inspector general of police, Kolhapur range — who appointed the panel led by Pune Deputy Mayor Dr Siddharth Dhende — on January 20.The Bhima Koregaon Commission has just concluded its first round of hearings in Mumbai, and will summon a member from the fact-finding team to depose before it in Pune.The report said Ekbote had founded theto distort the history of Vadhu Budruk and Govind Gaikwad – a Mahar hero who had performed the last rites of Sambhaji Maharaj, son of Shivaji Maharaj.“A board near Sambhaji Maharaj’s samadhi detailing the work done by Govind Gaikwad was replaced with a new one [omitting information about him], and [RSS founder] KB Hedgewar’s photo was put up. There was no need to put up Hedgewar’s photo at the samadhi. It was a deliberate move that created a rift between the upper and backward castes. If police had taken action, the untoward incident could have been avoided,” the report stated.On December 30, Milind Ekbote held a meeting and a press conference at Sonai Hotel, Perane Phata. “In the meeting, Ekbote appealed that January 1, 2018, be observed as a black day. Plans to observe a bandh in Bhima Koregaon and nearby villages were also discussed in the meeting. On December 30, 2017, the villagers of Bhima Koregaon decided to observe a bandh on January 1, and submitted a letter to this effect to the police,” the report stated. It alleged that people in nearby Sanaswadi knew about the violence in advance, and shops and hotels in the area were shut. It said water tankers were filled with kerosene, and lathis and swords kept in the village.Slamming the police for being mute spectators, the report named a deputy SP, a police inspector, and one more police officer, and stated that several phone calls were made to the cops about the violence, but were not taken seriously: “The police were witness to the violence and arson, but did not take any steps to prevent it. The assailants kept saying, ‘Don’t worry, the police are with us’.The report said a few police officials in civilian dress saw people with saffron flags marching towards Bhima Koregaon. “Instead of stopping them, the police were walking with them,” it stated, adding that the police mobilisation was inadequate. The report also mentioned a Facebook post that warned about a “riots-like situation” at the site nearly 20 days in advance.“We have given proof that it was pre-planned violence, and had nothing to do with the Elgar Parishad, as had been alleged. The history of Bhima Koregaon and surrounding areas shows that Dalits and Marathas did not previously have animosity. But Bhide and Ekbote twisted the historical narrative to create communal tension. We have mapped a chronology to establish the involvement of Hindutva forces,” Dhende told Mirror.