Bhima Koregaon violence: Pune Rural police arrest three more, 51 arrested so far

MUMBAI: Pune Rural police on Wednesday arrested three people in connection with the death of a man during Bhima Koregaon violence.

On January 2, Dalit groups staged protests in Mumbai and other parts of Maharashtra, resulting in massive traffic snarls, including on the Mumbai-Panvel highway.

A day earlier, violence erupted in the village of Koregaon-Bhima during the 200th-anniversary celebrations of the Anglo-Maratha War between the Army of Peshwa Bajirao II with a small force of East India Company that comprised a large number of Dalits.

Hundreds and thousands of Dalits had congregated around the Victory Pillar (Vijay Stambh) erected by the British in Sanaswadi village when suddenly stone pelting started, allegedly by some rightwing groups carrying saffron flags.

In the clashes that ensued between the two groups, more than 30 vehicles, including buses, police vans and private vehicles, were torched or damaged. The police fired tear gas to control the mobs and prohibitory orders were imposed in the entire Pune district. The violence led to the death of Rahul Fatangale, 28, of Nanded.

So far, a total of 51 people have been arrested in connection with the incident.