One person died after he was beaten up, over 50 vehicles were damaged in stone pelting and 25 vehicles were torched today. The incident happened when some villagers from Koregaon Bhima, Pabal, and Shikrapur near Perne Phata on Pune-Ahmednagar highway, 30km from Pune, clashed with a large group of people celebrating January 1, 1818, the victory of outnumbered British troops, including Dalit soldiers, over Peshwa Bajirao II’s army in Koregaon Bhima.
The Shikrapur police confirmed the death. They said the body of 28-year-old Rahul 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.
According to police, there was tension in the area since today 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 told that the situation was under control by 7 pm.
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.
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