Maharashtra home minister seeks probe report on Koregaon Bhima case

Maharashtra Home Minister and senior NCP leer Anil Deshmukh on Wednesday said he h demanded a detailed report on Koregaon Bhima case including its current status. In a swipe at erstwhile BJP government, newly-appointed home minister said that labelling people "urban Naxals" for holding a different view is a wrong practice.

tably, NCP chief Shar Pawar h in December last year demanded that a Special Investigation Team (SIT) be set up under a retired judge to probe action taken by Pune police in 2018 Koregaon Bhima case.

"I have sought a detailed report on status of Koregaon Bhima violence; its investigation and aftermath," Deshmukh told reporters.

term "urban naxal" was used by Pune Police probing alleged links between Elgaar Parish conclave of December 31, 2017 and caste clashes around Koregaon Bhima in Pune district next day. While some rights activists were arrested in case by Pune city police, ir rural counterparts h booked Hindutva leers Milind Ekbote and Sambhaji Bhide for allegedly inciting violence.

While Ekbote was granted bail by supreme court, Bhide was never arrested.

"Whoever disagreed with ir views were termed as urban naxals and this is wrong. previous government h set up an example in this regard," senior NCP leer said without taking name of BJP.

Responding to a query on a woman holding a "Free Kashmir" poster at a protest held at Gateway of India in Mumbai recently, Deshmukh said police are checking her antecedents. placard h raised many eyebrows. "I have also demanded a report on FIR registered against protesters who participated in Gateway of India protest," he said. protest was called off on Monday.