Preparations are in full swing at the ‘Jaystambh’, a British war memorial at Pune’s Perne village, to mark the 206th anniversary of the battle of Koregaon Bhima that was fought between the British Army and Peshwa forces on January 1, 1818.
Six years ago, widespread violence broke out in Koregaon Bhima area on January 1, 2018, when a few lakh people, mainly the Ambedkarites, had gathered to commemorate the 200th anniversary of the battle. Allegations were levelled against Hindutva leaders Milind Ekbote and Sambhaji Bhide for instigating violence that claimed one life and left several others injured.
The police gave a clean chit to Bhide but arrested Ekbote in two offences related to the violence. But Ekbote was released on bail.
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