Hindu Ekta Aghadi (HEA) leader Milind Ekbote was remanded in police custody in the Bhima-Koregaon riots case by a Pune court till March 19, even as Bharipa Bahujan Mahasangh (BBM) President Prakash Ambedkar rooted for the arrest of another right wing leader Sambaji Bhide in connection with the same case.
A day after he was arrested in connection with the Bhima-Koregaon riots case, Ekbote was produced before the Pune district and sessions court which remanded him in police custody till March 19.
On their part, the police officers investigating the Bhima-Koregaon riots case had sought 14-day custody of Ekbote, who has been charged with instigating and abetting violence at Bhima-Koregaon, in which one person was killed and sizeable property was destroyed. However, the court remanded Ekbote in police custody for next four days.
Ekbote has been booked under sections 153 -A (Giving provocation with intent to cause riot), 120 (b) (criminal conspiracy) and Sections 117 (abetting commission of offence by the public or by more than 10 persons) of IPC for his alleged role in triggering disturbances at Bhima-Koregaon.
He also faces charges under sections 307 (attempt to murder) 143 ( punishment for unlawful assembly), 148 ( rioting, armed with deadly weapon) 149 Unlawful assembly with a common object), and 295 ( injuring or defiling place of worship with an intent to insult the religion) of the IPC, and the Prevention of Atrocities Act, based on complaints filed at various police stations on January 1.
In a related development, BBM chief Prakash Ambedkar upped the ante by demanding the right wing leader and Shiv Pratishthan president Sambhaji Bhide alias Bhide Guruji. He warned the Maharashtra government if Bhide Guruji was not arrested on or before March 26, his party would organise a long-march to Mumbai.
Talking to media persons, Ambedkar said: “Along with Ekbote, Sambhaji Guruji also played a key role in instigating and abetting the Bhima-Koregaon riots. Now that Ekbote has been arrested, we demand that Sambaji Guruji be arrested on or before March 26. If Sambhaji Guiruji is not arrested before March 26, we will take out a long march to Mumbai”.
like Ekbote, 85-year-old leader Sambhaji Guruji also faces two FIRs for allegedly inciting and abetting the Koregaon Bhima riots.
It may be recalled that on January 1, one Rahul Phatangale (28), a Dalit, was killed and another 40-odd vehicles and some other property were damaged after some miscreants attacked Dalits celebrating the January 1, 1818 victory of British troops over Peshwa Bajirao II's army at Bhima-Koregaon in Pune district of western Maharashtra. Following the incident, Maharashtra had witnessed large-scale Dalit protests which turned violent at some places.