'Organisations favouring urban Naxalism behind Bhima Koregaon violence'

New Delhi [India], June 6 (ANI): Minister of State for Home Hansraj Ahir on Wednesday said the probe in Bhima Koregaon violence has proved that the movement was made violent by the organisations who work in favour of urban Naxalism.

The Minister added that the violence in Bhima Koregaon was a well-organised conspiracy to defame the Maharashtra government and the Central government.

"It was already known that the violence in Bhima Koregaon was a well-organised conspiracy to defame the Maharashtra government and the Central government. The police investigation has proved that the movement was made violent by the organisations who work in favour of urban Naxalism," Ahir told ANI.

Earlier in the day, few people were arrested by the Pune police in connection with the Bhima-Koregaon violence, from Mumbai, Nagpur, and Delhi, for spreading disputed pamphlets and delivering hate speech.

With the help of Delhi Police Special Cell, the Pune police nabbed a man named Rana Jacob, from Delhi.

A Delhi Court has sent Jacob to two-day transit remand. He will be produced before a local court in Pune on June 8.

According to a statement by the People's Union for Civil Liberties, Surendra Gadling, Sudhir Dhawale, Rona Wilson, Shoma Sen, Mahesh Raut and Rana Jacob were arrested in connection with the case on June 6.

However, the PUCL, in a statement, condemned the arrests and called them "vindictive and arbitrary".

It said, "PUCL strongly condemns the vindictive and arbitrary arrest of Advocate Surendra Gadling, Sudhir Dhawale, Rona Wilson, Shoma Sen, Mahesh Raut and Rana Jacob on 6th June 2018. They have been reportedly booked under the draconian Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA), on the allegation of spreading controversial pamphlets and delivering hate speeches in connection with the Bhima Koregaon violence that broke out in January 2018."

It further added, "We condemn the state reprisals being ordered against the activists and unequivocally demand that Adv. Surendra Gadling, Sudhir Dhawale, Rona Wilson, Shoma Sen, Surendra Gadling, Rana Jacob be released immediately and raids being carried out on premises of various activists be stopped."

The 200th anniversary of Bhima-Koregaon movement took a violent turn this year when a youth died in clashes on during an event to mark the day.

The violence left one dead and several injured, including 10 policemen. (ANI)

This story has not been edited. It has been published as provided by ANI