Man arrested for smearing ink on Milind Ekbote’s face

Pune: The Shivajinagar police has arrested Sanjay Waghmare — allegedly a member of the Ganimi Kava Yuva Seva Sangh –— for smearing black ink on the face of Milind Ekbote, an accused in the Bhima-Koregaon violence on January 1, on Monday when Mr Ekbote was being led out of a court hearing.

The police booked Mr Waghmare — who has two prior cases pertaining to violation of the Arms Act and forgery registered against him with the Shivajinagar and Bibawewadi police stations, respectively -—for allegedly obstructing the discharge of government work and assaulting Mr Ekbote. Mr Ekbote was produced before the court as his remand was ending Monday. After the court extended his remand, he was being led out of the courtroom when Mr Waghmare came running and tried to throw black ink on the accused’s face.

Although the police immediately arrested Mr Waghmare, four women from Mr Ekbote’s family and his supporters said the police should be ashamed of themselves for not being able to protect a single man and how were they going to protect him in jail.

They also accused the police of sympathising with Mr Ekbote’s opponents, saying that while they were not allowed to go upstairs to the courtroom for security reasons, dalit supporters were allowed inside.

Special judge Pralhad Baghure remanded Mr Ekbote to two days’ police custody, saying that the charges against him were grave and that police needed time to investigate.