1 dies in caste clash over 200-yr-old battle in Maharashtra

News Network
January 2, 2018

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.

Comments

Add new comment

  • Coastaldigest.com reserves the right to delete or block any comments.
  • Coastaldigset.com is not responsible for its readers’ comments.
  • Comments that are abusive, incendiary or irrelevant are strictly prohibited.
  • Please use a genuine email ID and provide your name to avoid reject.
News Network
February 16,2020

Gorakhpur, Feb 16: Two unidentified policemen allegedly raped a 20-year-old woman in a hotel room near a railway station in Uttar Pradesh's Gorakhpur.

The incident took place on Thursday after which the woman informed her family members. The FIR was registered in the matter on Friday, police said.

A case under various sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) including gang rape has been registered against two unidentified police men at the Gorakhnath police station, they said.

No arrests have been made so far in this connection, the police added.

Members of various political parties including Congress, Samajwadi Party, BSP and Purvanchal Sena staged a sit-in demonstration at the office of the district magistrate (DM) demanding suspension of all staff members of the Gorakhnath police station as well as a magisterial probe into the matter.

"The girl is undergoing treatment at the district hospital. She has made serious allegation of rape by two policemen. During investigation we found that the hotel has CCTV footage and also took the statement of guard," SSP Gorakhpur, Sunil Kumar Gupta said.

"Prima facie, the woman went to the hotel room willingly with some men. However, a probe is underway and culprits won't be spared," he said.

The woman told media that both the policemen thrashed her and accused her of being involved in prostitution.

She claimed that she requested them to leave her but they beat her and raped her. Later, they asked her to go home in an autorickshaw.

The survivor also told media and investigating policemen that she will be able to identify the hotel room where the crime took place as well as the two policemen who allegedly raped her.

The woman said she runs coaching classes at her home and her father is a labourer.

Comments

Add new comment

  • Coastaldigest.com reserves the right to delete or block any comments.
  • Coastaldigset.com is not responsible for its readers’ comments.
  • Comments that are abusive, incendiary or irrelevant are strictly prohibited.
  • Please use a genuine email ID and provide your name to avoid reject.
Agencies
January 12,2020

Mumbai, Jan 12: At least eight persons were killed and several others injured when a massive blast followed by a fire ripped a chemical factory at Boisar in Palghar district, nearly 100 km north of Mumbai, on Saturday, officials said.

Top Palghar district administration, police and fire brigade officials have rushed to the spot for the rescue operation, while Fire Brigade teams from Boisar MIDC industrial area and Tarapur Atomic Power Station are engaged in dousing the flames.

As per local witnesses, the intensity of the explosion was so severe that it was audible in a 35-km range and one building in the factory collapsed.

Besides, many homes in the immediate vicinity were shaken and people ran outside thinking it was an earthquake, as power lines also failed.

The exact cause of the explosion-cum-blaze which occurred around 7 p.m. is not immediately available.

Comments

Add new comment

  • Coastaldigest.com reserves the right to delete or block any comments.
  • Coastaldigset.com is not responsible for its readers’ comments.
  • Comments that are abusive, incendiary or irrelevant are strictly prohibited.
  • Please use a genuine email ID and provide your name to avoid reject.
News Network
July 22,2020

Thiruvananthapuram, Jul 22:An accused in a case registered under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act jumped into the sea on Wednesday morning when he was taken for evidence collection at Kasaba in Kasargode district, police said.

Accused Mahesh was arrested following a complaint by his neighbour on Tuesday evening.

The police said that they took the accused to the seashore to collect evidence in the case when Mahesh jumped into the sea. Two police officials too jumped in after him to catch hold of him but could not locate Mahesh.

Later, swimmers were deployed to try and locate the missing man.

Comments

Add new comment

  • Coastaldigest.com reserves the right to delete or block any comments.
  • Coastaldigset.com is not responsible for its readers’ comments.
  • Comments that are abusive, incendiary or irrelevant are strictly prohibited.
  • Please use a genuine email ID and provide your name to avoid reject.