A robust police shield is in place ahead of the 201st anniversary of the Koregaon-Bhima battle to preclude any recurrence of the violent clashes that marred the bicentenary celebrations on January 1 this year.
More than 200 anti-social elements are being taken into preventive detention, said the Pune rural police.
Sandip Patil, Superintendent of Police (Pune Rural), said that since November, authorities were keeping a strict vigil on provocative and potentially inflammatory social media messages regarding the January 1 event.
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“A force 10 times larger than last year’s will be deployed for the security of the people visiting the victory pillar. This includes 12 State Reserve Police Force companies totalling 5,000 policemen who will maintain peace in Bhima-Koregaon, Vadhu Budruk and other potential flashpoints,” said Mr. Patil.
He said the police were keeping an eye on the circulation of provocative pamphlets and booklets in areas near the Bhima-Koregaon Ranstambh (victory pillar).
Besides the massive security detail, the district administration has planned for 1,000 tankers and 380 mobile toilets, besides 32 ambulances and 23 fire brigade vehicles to prevent any mishap at the event. A helpline number, 7820-966-966, had been set up to report any untoward incident or mishap.
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Villagers co-opted
“The administration held more than 20 meetings with the villagers to ensure the ceremony passes off peacefully. Police have also told us that miscreants who had taken part in the clashes and are not in detention would be taken into preventive custody,” said Rahul Dambale, president of the Bhartiya Republican Yuva Morcha.
Bahujan Republican Socialist Party leader Milind Ahire said this year more than 10 lakh people are expected to gather at the Bhima-Koregaon Ranstambh (victory pillar), the obelisk commemorating the British East India Company soldiers who fell in the battle on January 1, 1818.
Meanwhile, in a bid to send a strong message of social harmony, the panchayats of Koregaon-Bhima, Perne, Shikrapur, Sanaswadi and Lonikand have prepared a video assuring their Dalit brethren that no untoward incident would occur this time.
Last year, a number of villagers had kept their shops and eateries shut allegedly on the diktats of right wing groups, which exhorted them not to provide meals and refreshment to the lakhs of Dalit pilgrims gathered to pay obeisance near the victory pillar.