2018 Bhima Koregaon violence explained

2018 Dalit protests in Maharashtra Bhima Koregaon protests
Date:	1 January 2018
Place:	Maharashtra, India
Methods:	Protesting, rock throwing, arson, mobbing
Injuries:	35
Fatalities:	2
Arrests:	300
Map Type:	India Maharashtra

The 2018 Bhima Koregaon violence 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.

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.^{[5] [6] [7] [8] [9] [10]}

Vadhu Budruk trigger

According to the facts, 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, 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.^[5]

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

• On 2 January 2018, an FIR was filed against Sambhaji Bhide and Milind Ekbote for instigating violence on Dalits.^[18]
• In February 2018, the Supreme Court criticised the State government and probe agencies for the slow progress in their probe against Milind Ekbote, questioning the agencies’ claims that he was allegedly ‘untraceable’. Chief minister Devendra Fadnavis said in the state assembly that the police had raided all hotels and lodges in Pune and Kolhapur in search of Ekbote, conducted combing operations, detained his followers and examined more than 100 call records but failed to locate him.^[19]
• On 14 March 2018, the district rural police of Pune arrested Milind Ekbote. The Supreme Court cancelled his interim bail plea after he did not cooperate with the probe agencies despite five summons for interrogation and refused to hand over his mobile phone.^{[20] [21]}
• On 22 April 2018, a nineteen-year-old dalit witness, whose house was burnt in the violence, was found dead in a well. Her family alleged that she was under intense pressure to withdraw her statement.^[22] Her brother, Jaideep, also a witness, had been arrested by Pune Rural Police on charges of attempt to murder.^[23]
• Investigation by the police in the following months resulted in various arrests, such as that of Rona Wilson in June 2018 under Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act.^[24]
• In August 2018 five activists, including Varavara Rao, Arun Ferreira, Sudha Bharadwaj and Gautam Navlakha, were picked up in simultaneous raids across the country, the police alleged that the activists had ties to Maoists, apart from links to the Bhima Koregaon incident.^[25]
• On 22 January 2020, the newly elected Maharashtra government ordered a probe into the matter, further considering constituting a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to look into the investigation.^[26]
• On 25 January 2020, the National Investigation Agency, a central agency governed by the Union Ministry of Home Affairs, took over the case from the Maharashtra government. Maharashtra Home Minister Anil Deshmukh, accused the Union Government of not taking the State's consent before taking over the case.^[27]
• In October 2020, the NIA released a 10,000 page chargesheet regarding the incident with fresh names, including Stan Swamy, a Jesuit priest,^[28] who the NIA accused of conspiring to bring together Dalit and Muslim forces to take on what he referred to as the “fascist government” at the Centre. The NIA also accused him of being connected to the banned left-wing militant organisation, CPI (Maoist).^[29]
• A report by Arsenal Consulting, a digital forensics firm based out of Massachusetts, said the incriminating evidence against Rona Wilson was placed on his laptop by a yet-to-be-identified attacker using a malware while his laptop was compromised for over 22 months.^{[30] [31]}

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

• 8 June 2018: Pune Police arrested Surendra Gadling, Sudhir Dhawale, Rona Wilson, Shoma Sen and Mahesh Raut with alleged Maoist links for inciting riots.^{[33] [34]}
• 28 August 2018: the Pune police carried out searches of nine rights activists, and arrested five of them. Those arrested include activists Varavara Rao, lawyer Sudha Bharadwaj, and activists Arun Ferreira, Gautam Navlakha and Vernon Gonsalves.^[35] The Supreme Court ordered them to be placed under "house arrest".^[36] On 10 August 2022, the Supreme Court granted bail to Varavara Rao on medical grounds.^[37]
• 12 September 2018: The Supreme Court extends the "house arrest" until 17 September 2018.
• 28 September 2018: The Supreme Court extends the house arrest by another four weeks, but declined the appointment of a special investigation team.^{[38] [39]}
• 26 October 2018: The police had arrested accused Arun Ferreira and Vernon Gonsalves. Another accused Sudha Bharadwaj was taken into custody the next day.
• On the night of 17 November 2018: The Pune police arrested activist Varvara Rao.
• According to police, all the arrested activists had links with the Maoists, who backed Elgar Parishad event held in Pune on 31 December 2017. Police claimed that Elgar Parishad led to the violence at Koregaon Bhima war memorial on 1 January 2018 when thousands of people gathered here to mark the 200th anniversary of the Battle of Bhima Koregaon.
• The police also filed a chargesheet against 10 people including five rights activists just around a week ago from Rao's arrest. it claimed that the December 31 event was organised as per a plan by the banned CPI(Maoist), to mobilise Dalit groups and other organisations against the ruling establishment. It said that inciting speeches at the event provoked the masses and aggravated violence in Bhima Koregaon on 1 January 2018. According to the police document, activists and others are active members of CPI (Maoist). Also, there was also a plot to assassinate Prime Minister Narendra Modi, it claimed.^[40]
• On 14 April 2020, the 129th birth anniversary of Dr Ambedkar, his grandson-in-law, Anand Teltumbde was arrested by the NIA in connection with the case. A week before his arrest on April 8, The Supreme Court of India denied him anticipatory bail.^[41] It was later revealed by the NIA that Anand Teltumbde along with his associates, were in contact with RDF (banned terrorist organisation in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana) and CPI(Maoist), and organised weapons and explosive training for the militants in Korchi forest area of Maharashtra.^{[42] [43]}
• On 9 October 2020, the NIA arrested 83-year-old Stan Swamy in connection with the case. The NIA alleged that the Persecuted Prisoners Solidarity Committee (PPSC) co-convened by Swamy and Sudha Bharadwaj was a front for Maoists.^{[44] [45]}
• On 28 July 2023, The Supreme Court granted bail to activists Vernon Gonsalves and Arun Ferreira, accused in the violence case. A bench of Justices Aniruddha Bose and Sadhanshu Dhukia said that the five-year-long incarnation of the activists made them duly eligible for bail despite the fact that the offences they're accused of is "grave".^[46]
• On 14 May 2024, The Supreme Court of India grants bail to the Bhima Koregaon-accused Gautam Navlakha. The same is subject to the payment of Rs 20 Lakhs for his house arrest.

Notes and References

1. News: Understanding Bhima Koregaon. Pol. Prabodhan. 2018-01-04. The Hindu. 2018-09-01. en-IN. 0971-751X.
2. News: Dalits protest death of 28-year-old in Bhima Koregaon clashes. 2018-01-02. Hindustantimes. 2018-01-02. en-IN. 0971-751X.
3. Web site: Staff . The Wire . 'Pune ATS Spreading Panic in My Neighbourhood': Justice (Retd) B. G. Kolse Patil . 25 October 2020 . The Wire . The Wire.
4. Web site: Katakam . Anupama . Elgar Parishad case: Victims of vendetta . Frontline . 22 August 2020 . 25 October 2020.
5. https://www.news18.com/news/india/bhima-koregaon-how-and-why-the-january-violence-snowballed-into-arrest-of-rights-activists-1860141.html Bhima Koregaon: How and Why the January Violence Snowballed Into Arrest of Rights Activists
6. Web site: Caste violence erupts in India over 200-year-old faultline . CNN . 5 January 2018 . 8 January 2018.
7. News: Monument at Koregaon. 2018-01-02. The Indian Express. 2018-01-07. en-US.
8. News: How a British war memorial became a symbol of Dalit pride . The Hindu . 2 January 2018 . 8 January 2018. Banerjee . Shoumojit .
9. https://www.thequint.com/videos/news-videos/history-of-bhima-koregaon-battle Let’s Rewind 200 Years to Understand Bhima Kore Violence
10. 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.
11. News: Removal of Mahar samadhi board near Pune sparked clashes. 2018-01-04. The Indian Express. 2018-09-01. en-US.
12. Web site: Aarefa Johari. Abhishek Dey. From Pune to Paris: How a police investigation turned a Dalit meeting into a Maoist plot. 2019-04-15. Scroll.in. 2 September 2018 . en-US.
13. News: Independent Inquiry Slams Pune Police for 'Inaction' During Bhima Koregaon Violence .
14. News: Protests spread in Maharashtra post clashes during bicentenary celebrations of Bhima-Koregaon battle. Banerjee. Shoumojit. 2018-01-02. The Hindu. 2018-08-31. en-IN. 0971-751X.
15. News: Maharashtra bandh: Minor boy killed as shutdown called by Dalit parties paralyses state. 2018-01-07.
16. News: Maharashtra protests: Over 30 cops injured, 300 persons detained. PTI. 2018-01-04. livemint.com/. 2018-01-07.
17. News: Trains hit, dabbawalas suspend services. Srinivasan. Madhuvanti. 2018-01-04. The Hindu. 2018-01-07. en-IN. 0971-751X.
18. News: Bhima Koregaon Violence: Petition Before Bombay HC Seeking Arrest Of Sambhaji Bhide . 2018-08-31. Live Law. 2018-08-31. en-US.
19. Web site: Bhima Koregaon Violence: Maharashtra to Withdraw All Cases Barring Major Ones. The Wire. 2018-08-31.
20. News: Bhima-Koregaon violence: prime accused Milind Ekbote arrested. Banerjee. Shoumojit. 2018-03-14. The Hindu. 2018-08-31. en-IN. 0971-751X.
21. Web site: Right-Wing Leader Milind Ekbote Arrested After SC Rejects His Anticipatory Bail Plea. The Wire. 2018-08-31.
22. News: Dalit Girl, Witness To Bhima Koregaon Violence, Found Dead In Well Near Pune. NDTV.com. 2018-08-31.
23. News: Bhima Koregaon shadow over death of Dalit witness. 2018-04-25. The Indian Express. 2018-08-31. en-US.
24. News: Bhima Koregaon: How and Why the January Violence Snowballed Into Arrest of Rights Activists. News18. 2018-09-01.
25. Web site: Bhima Koregaon violence probe: Police claim conclusive proof against activists, seize 'letters' planning 'big action' - Firstpost. firstpost.com. 31 August 2018 . 2018-09-01.
26. Web site: Maharashtra Home Minister Seeks Probe Report On Bhima Koregaon Case . NDTV . NDTV . 9 October 2020.
27. Web site: NIA takes over Koregaon-Bhima probe, Maharashtra minister Anil Deshmukh hits out at Centre . India Today . India Today . 9 October 2020.
28. News: Gupta . Saurabh . NIA Court Rejects Tribal Activist Stan Swamy's Bail Plea . 23 October 2020 . NDTV . 23 October 2020.
29. Web site: Sandhu. Kamaljit Kaur. This is what NIA's Bhima Koregaon chargesheet says about Stan Swamy. 2020-10-13. 2020-10-13. India Today. en.
30. News: They were accused of plotting to overthrow the Modi government. The evidence was planted, new report says. . 11 February 2021 . The Washington Post . 10 February 2021.
31. News: Evidence planted in Bhima Koregaon accused Rona Wilson's computer: US firm . 11 February 2021 . The Tribune . 11 February 2021.
32. News: Ganapatye . Shruti . Bhima Koregaon commission to 'wind up'? . 1 November 2020 . Mumbai Mirror . 19 June 2020.
33. News: Bhima-Koregaon violence: Police arrest 5 with alleged Maoist links for inciting riots . 30 October 2018 . hindustantimes.com/ . 6 June 2018 . en.
34. News: Activists case: Pune police gets 90 more days for probe - Times of India . 30 October 2018 . The Times of India.
35. https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/activists-arrested-in-raids-in-many-cities-in-connection-with-caste-violence-in-maharashtras-bhima-k-1907380 After Arrest Of Activists Over "Maoist Plot", A Midnight Drama: 10 Facts
36. News: Bhima Koregaon violence case: Five activists will remain under house arrest till September 17, says SC. 2018-09-12. The Indian Express. 2018-09-12. en-US.
37. News: Supreme Court Grants Bail To Varavara Rao On Medical Grounds In Bhima Koregaon Case, Deletes HC Condition To Surrender After 3 Months. 2022-08-10. 2022-08-15.
38. News: Bhima-Koregaon case: Supreme Court refuses to interfere with arrests of five activists. Rautray. Samanwaya. 2018-09-28. The Economic Times. 2018-09-28.
39. News: Supreme Court Extends Activists' House Arrest By 4 Weeks: LIVE Updates. NDTV.com. 2018-09-28.
40. Web site: Bhima Koregaon case: Activist Varavara Rao arrested from Hyderabad. November 18, 2018.
41. Web site: MN. Parth. India arrests activist Anand Teltumbde over 2018 caste violence. 2020-10-14. www.aljazeera.com. en.
42. Web site: 2020-10-14. Bhima Koregaon: Milind Teltumbde organised weapons training in forests, says NIA. 2020-10-15. mid-day. en.
43. Web site: Bhima Koregaon: Teltumbde organised weapons training in forests. 2020-10-15. Sify. en.
44. Web site: 2020-10-09. In 10,000-page chargsheet, NIA names 8 accused in Elgar Parishad case. 2020-10-13. Hindustan Times. en.
45. Web site: 2020-10-09. NIA arrests activist Stan Swamy in Bhima-Koregaon violence case. 2020-10-13. Hindustan Times. en.
46. News: 2023-07-28 . Bhima-Koregaon case Keeping literature on violence not a terror act, says Supreme Court; grants bail to activists Vernon Gonsalves, Arun Ferreira . en-IN . The Hindu . 2023-07-29 . 0971-751X.