Elgar Morcha protest live updates: Prakash Ambedkar demands Sambhaji Bhide's arrest for Bhima-Koregaon violence

Dalit leader and grandson of Dr B R Ambedkar, Dr Prakash Ambedkar demanded the arrest of Hindutva leader Sambhaji Bhide for his alleged involvement in the Bhima-Koregaon violence that broke out in January.

Pic Courtesy: DNA

MUMBAI: Hundreds of Bharipa Bahujan Mahasangh (BBM) activists on Monday gathered outside Mumbai's Chhatrapathi Shivaji Maharaj Terminus (CSMT) and demanded the arrest of Hindutva leader Sambhaji Bhide in the Bhima-Koregaon violence case.

Dalit leader and grandson of Dr B R Ambedkar, Dr Prakash Ambedkar has demanded the arrest of Hindutva leader Sambhaji Bhide for his alleged involvement in the violence that broke out in January.

On Sunday, Mumbai Police had denied permission to Prakash Ambedkar-led protest rally. Bharip Bahujan Mahasangh (BBM) president Prakash has been demanding that that state government should arrest Hindutva leader Sambhaji Bhide who is also known as Bhide Guruji by March 26.

26 March 2018

13:31 PM

One of the our biggest demands is that Bhimra Koregaon accused Sambhaji Bhide is arrested soon. The Chief Minister has given us time to meet, we will go to meet him from here and keep ourdemands: Prakash Ambedkar

12:32 PM

Milind Ekbote, an accused in Bhima Koregaon violence, was sent to 14 days judicial custody last week by a sessions court in Pune. He was booked under relevant sections of SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act for allegedly orchestrating the violence.

12:29 PM

#Visuals of Elgar protest march at Mumbai's Azad Maidan demanding the arrest of Sambhaji Bhide in the Bhima-Koregaon violence case. pic.twitter.com/jXkTGTvyOW

— ANI (@ANI) March 26, 2018

12:26 PM

Later, protests by the Dalits had spread to several towns and cities in Maharashtra, including capital Mumbai. The protests were led by Prakash Ambedkar who had called a 'Maharashtra bandh' to protest against the government's 'failure' to stop the violence. It was called off after talks with the state government.

12:25 PM

It had led to clashes between the two groups, leading to prohibitory orders being imposed in the entire Pune district. Rahul Fatangale, 28, from Nanded was killed in the subsequent violence. 

12:24 PM

On January 1, Dalits had congregated around the Victory Pillar (Vijay Stambh) erected by the British in Sanaswadi village when stone pelting had taken place, allegedly by some right-wing groups. The incident took place during an event to commemorate the bicentenary of the Bhima-Koregaon battle.