Pune, Jan 2: One person died after he was thrashed, 25 vehicles were torched and over 50 vehicles were damaged in stone pelting as clashes broke out between villagers from Koregaon Bhima, Pabal and Shikrapur and a large group of people celebrating the January 1, 1818, victory of British troops over Peshwa Bajirao II's army in Koregaon Bhima. Dalits were part of the British troops.
The Shikrapur police confirmed the death. They said the body of 28-year-old Rahul (surname not known) was sent to Sassoon General Hospital for a post mortem. Three people were injured.
The Pune rural police said buses, four-wheelers, including a police van, and two-wheelers were among the torched vehicles with Sanaswadi near Koregaon Bhima bearing the brunt.
The mob was brought under control around 1.30pm. Shops and petrol pumps were shut along the highway. A strong bandobast was already in place in the area as the villagers were opposed to Monday's rally. Two companies of Central Reserve Police Force summoned on Monday morning, were stationed at Shikrapur to prevent any further trouble.
Inspector general of police (Kolhapur range) Vishwas Nangre-Patil said there was tension in the area since Monday morning. "Trouble broke out in the morning after a few men with saffron flags visited the area. Later, villagers set ablaze eight vehicles on the highway and some threw stones at vehicles," he said.
Eyewitnesses said the men from Pune with flags urged the villagers not to put up with the celebration rally. This group had also opposed the Shaurya Parishad, addressed by newly elected Gujarat MLA Jignesh Mevani and others, at Shaniwarwada on Sunday evening.
Nangre-Patil said that the situation was under control by 7pm.
"So far, no arrests have been made. We have cordoned off the roads leading to the Koregaon memorial. Nobody is allowed to venture near it. Heavy police bandobast has been deployed. There were very few people on the highway. A majority of the miscreants were hiding in the farms along the highway and pelting stones," he said.
Vehicles burnt, police file atrocity case against 49
Hundreds of vehicles were stuck in the massive traffic jam on both sides of the highway from Pune to Perne Phata and from Chakan to Shikrapur after trouble broke out.
The highway stretch was dotted with burnt vehicles, including an autorickshaw and bikes and broken glass. Many people who had gone to the memorial were making their way home on foot on Monday evening.
Rahul Bansode from Mumbai came to Koregaon Bhima on Monday afternoon. "Before we could reach our destination, stones were thrown at our car. The car has been damaged completely," he said. There were five people in his car and they were unhurt. "It is cold and our vehicle does not have wind shields or window panes," he said.
Last week, a group of people from different villages, damaged the samadhi of Govind Gopal Mahar-Gaikwad, a Dalit farmer who had arranged for the last rites of Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj at Vadhu Budruk village on Pune-Ahmednagar highway, over 300 years ago.
The Pune rural police had filed a case of atrocity against 49 villagers and arrested a few. On Monday, those participating in the celebrations went to Vadhu Budruk before heading to Koregaon Bhima.
On Sunday, minister of state for social justice and empowerment Ramdas Athawale announced that he would seek a national war memorial at Koregaon Bhima in Perne village located on Pune-Ahmednagar highway.
Republican Party of India (Athwale) had organized a special programme to commemorate 200 years of the Koregaon Bhima battle . Guardian minister Girish Bapat, BJP MP Amar Sable, deputy mayor Siddhartha Dende, and other RPI leaders were present.
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