Bhima-Koregaon: Pune court issues warrant against pro-Hindutva leader

Pune: A Pune Court issued an arrest warrant against pro-Hindutva leader Milind Ekbote for spreading violence in numerous villages during the 200th anniversary celebrations of Battle of Bhima Koregaon on January 1 this year.

Along with the 60-year-old Ekbote, another pro-Hindutva leader, 85-year-old Sambhaji Bhide was also charged for the same.

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Asked about Bhide, a senior police officer said, “What we had in our hands till now, in terms of concrete leads, has resulted in an arrest warrant for one suspect (Ekbote). Probe on the second suspect (Bhide) is in progress.”

Police sources also informed that Ekbote, whose arson last month left one person dead and several others injured, is on the run.

The FIR against Ekbote and Bhide was filed by Dalit activists at Pimpri police station and was later sent to Pune Rural Police.

The complainant, Anita Salave, is a member of Bahujan Republican Socialist Party. 

She claimed to have seen Bhide and Ekbote in the area where violence took place.

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Ekbote's attempts to secure anticipatory bail fell flat on its face in both sessions court and High Court.