The Pune Police on Friday, 8 June, released video grabs of four suspects who allegedly assaulted a youth during the Bhima Koregaon violence that occurred on 1 January, 2018. The youth, Rahul Phatangade, was attacked and killed by a mob, armed with stones and sticks, near Sanaswadi during the violence.
Pune's superintendent of police (SP), Akkanouru Prasad told ANI, "We released pictures of the suspects who were involved in attacking the youth with stones and sticks. Also, a video clip was found and based on that, we arrested three people from Ahmednagar district."
There are many people who were involved in the violence. Their faces are not clear in some of the pictures we released. We have not been able to identify them. The investigation is going on.Akkanouru Prasad, SP, Pune
According to PTI, Prasad also urged people to come forward and help the police with whatever information that they might have to facilitate the investigation into the case.
Joint Commissioner of Pune Police, Ravindra Kadam, said that the police had arrested five people in connection with the violence, adding they have links with the Naxals.
Among those arrested include Surendra Gadling, Sudhir Dhawale, Rona Jacob Wilson, Shoma Sen and Mahesh Raut, ANI reported.
A Pune Court on Thursday, 7 June, sent all the five arrested, including activist Rona Wilson and lawyer Surendra Gadling, to police custody till 14 June.
Violence erupted on 1 January, allegedly due to provocative speeches made at the Elgar Parishad, organised at Pune's Shaniwarwada on 31 December, to commemorate 200 years of the Bhima Koregaon battle in 1818.
Several others were also injured, including 10 policemen.
(With inputs from PTI and ANI)
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