Security Deployed At Koregaon Bhima For Mega Dalit Event Today

A year to the day when violence broke out at Maharashtra’s Koregaon Bhima between Dalits and right-wing groups, the police are on high alert to prevent the repeat of the incident.

5000 police personnel, 1200 Home Guards and 12 companies of the Rapid Action Force and the State Reserve Police Force (SRPF) have been deployed in and around the war memorial at Koregaon Bhima, dedicated to a battle that saw Dalit soldiers fighting with the British and defeating the army of the upper caste Peshawar or rulers.

Last year, on this day, the annual celebratory gathering at Koregaon Bhima to mark the 200^th year of the Battle of Bhima Koregaon turned to violence resulting in one death, 30 injured policemen and 300 people detained.

Prakash Ambedkar, the grandson of Dalit icon BR Ambedkar, is likely to visit the memorial today. To avoid a repeat of last year’s incident, the police have taken ‘preventive action’ against over 1200 people which includes barring the entrance to some people and forcing others to leave the district temporarily.