Bhima-Koregaon judicial probe yet to begin work

Mumbai: Although an inquiry committee was appointed to probe the Bhima-Koregaon violence a month-and-a-half ago, the committee is yet to begin work. 

As the chief secretary appointed to the committee is due to retire on April 30, the daily work of the committee may proceed after that. Meanwhile, Republican Party of India (RPI) leader Prakash Ambedkar has alleged that the government wants to delay the probe. Notwithstanding, CM  Fadnavis has said that the committee will resume work very soon.

Looking at the gravity of the issue, Mr Fadnavis had immediately appointed former Chief Justice of the Kolkata high court, J.N. Patel, and chief secretary, Sumit Mallick, to conduct the judicial probe into the violence at Bhima-Koregaon on January 1 this year. 

Thereafter, it took more than a month to finalise the name of the judge, and the government appointed C.S. Mallick, too, on the committee. Now, one-and-a-half month has passed since finalising the committee but the probe is yet to begin, despite the government having asked the committee to complete the probe in three months.

Mr Ambedkar had staged agitations in the Assembly for Hindutva leader, Sambhaji Bhide, to be arrested. However, Mr Fadnavis brushed them aside saying that there was no evidence of his role in the violence. 

While speaking to The Asian Age, Mr Ambedkar said, “We will continue with our agitations till we get justice, and the government arrests Mr Bhide. Sahebrao Patil, a follower of Bhide, had tweeted soon after the incident that as the CM had preempted plans to gather a mob, he should be killed. This hints at Mr Bhide’s involvement and hence, the government should arrest him.”