Mumbai: The security agencies suspect that urban Naxal cadres were behind the Bhima Koregaon violence across Maharashtra. The security agencies have got hold of documents regarding the meeting of Naxal organisations which was held in Pune a few days before the Bhima Koregaon violence which resulted in Maharashtra bandh and section 144 in Thane. The Dalit protesters on Tuesday and Wednesday halted Mumbai local trains, blocked roads, and pelted stones while observing ‘Maharashtra Bandh’ over the caste-based Bhima Koregaon violence on Monday.
“As per our security agencies’ reports and records, many leaders of the front organisations who were present at the ‘Yalgar Parishad’ held at Shaniwarwada in Pune on December 31 are directly or indirectly connected to Naxalites,” a police officer was quoted as saying by Times of India. He added that Naxalites have in past tried to “infiltrate such movements or trigger such sentiments”. “We are probing the role of these organisations,” said Maharashtra chief minister Devendra Fadnavis on Wednesday.
However, the police probe says that the Dalit agitation was not pre-planned. A report by India Today said that the Dalits had come to the celebration of 200th anniversary of Bhima Koregaon battle with their children and didn’t carry weapons. In fact, those injured were also not hit by any sharp objects.
The caste-based Bhima Koregaon violence crippled the city of Mumbai a day after clashes between Dalit and Maratha communities during the celebration of the 200th anniversary of the Bhima Koregaon battle in Pune. Mumbai local trains and road traffic witnessed disruption on Tuesday and Wednesday as protests spread across Mumbai alleging that they have specifically been targetted in the clashes.
Mumbai local trains and road traffic were disrupted as protests spread across Mumbai and several other parts of Maharashtra due to clashes between the Dalit and Maratha communities a day before. Following the protests, Bharipa Bahujan Mahasangh (BBM) leader and BR Ambedkar’s grandson Prakash Ambedkar called for Maharashtra Bandh on January 3, to protest against the Maharashtra government’s “failure” to stop the violence at Bhima Koregaon village in Pune district on Monday.
Although the Maharashtra bandh was called off by Prakash Ambedkar, he issued a warning to the state government and the BJP saying, “Ignore the unrest at your own cost. Ultimately you are responsible for law and order situation.” The Mumbai Police also booked two right-wing activists, Sambhaji Bhide and Milind Ekbote, on the charges of instigating the Bhima Koregaon violence during the event on Monday.
