Complaint against Jignesh Mevani, Umar Khalid for triggering Bhima-Koregaon clashes

A police complaint has been filed against Dalit leader and Gujarat MLA Jignesh Mevani and JNU activist Umar Khalid for allegedly giving “provocative” speech at an event in Pune’s Shaniwarwala to mark the 200th anniversary of Bhima Koregaon battle on Monday.

In the complaint filed by two Pune youths Akshay Bikkad and Anand Dond, it was alleged that "Mevani's remarks triggered the tension in the state between two communities."

"He provocated (provoked) people to 'Come on street and retaliate.' Due to this statement people came out and tension erupted," the complaint read.

However, Mevani in a tweet asked people to maintain peace and Maharashtra government to take care of the law and order situation.

 “Maharashtra government must ensure rule of law. I appeal to the people of Maharashtra to maintain peace,’ Mevani tweeted.

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Earlier on Monday, violent clashes erupted between two groups during an event to mark the 200th anniversary of the Battle of Bhima Koregaon battle in which British Army comprising Dalits had defeated upper-caste Peshwas.

During the clashes, a Dalit man lost his life while several others were injured.

The Bhima Koregaon protest on Tuesday reached Mumbai and spread to as much as 13 cities of Maharashtra.

Angered over the death of the 27-year-old Dalit man, protesters damaged over 160 buses in Mumbai by rampaging protesters over 100 of whom were detained, police said.

Prakash Abmedkar, the grandson son of Bharat Ratna Bhimrao Ambedkar called for a state wide bandh on Wednesday.