With hundreds set to congregate at Koregaon Bhima in Shirur tehsil of Maharashtra’s Pune district on January 1 to commemorate the 205th anniversary of the Anglo-Maratha war, security has been beefed up. In view of Maharashtra Karni Sena chief Ajay Sengar’s demand to ban the annual congregation, a huge posse of police officers and personnel have been be deployed to maintain security arrangements.
Every year, hundreds of Ambedkariates and Dalits gather at the “JayStambh” (victory pillar) to celebrate the victory of British forces over the Peshwa Army on January 1, 1818. On this day, commemorated as ‘Shaurya Diwas, the Mahar caste soldiers of the Bombay Native Infantry of East India Company defeated the Peshwas in this war.
Violence along caste lines in 2018
On January 1, 2018, the annual event had sparked off a caste violence. Two groups had clashed with each other along caste lines in the adjoining areas of Koregaon Bhima, Sanaswadi, Kondhapuri and Shikrapur on Pune/Ahmednagar Road. While one person was reported dead, several others were suffered injuries.
This story was originally published in thefederal.com . Read the full story here