This year, the entire Bhima-Koregaon event - right from setting up of stalls, parking facilities, transport arrangements - will be supervised by the administration.
A year after major violence erupted in Bhima-Koregaon, the Maharashtra government is taking no chances as thousands of Dalits will gather in the Pune town on January 1. The event will witness Pandharpur Wari like security arrangement, deploying 10 times the police personnel than what it was this year.
This comes on the backdrop of the riots at Bhima-Koregaon on January 1 this year.
With less than a month to go for the first anniversary of the violence which took place at Koregaon-Bhima earlier this year, the government agencies have already started gearing up for the preparation to ensure that a repeat of this year's violence does not take place next year.
Pune rural police, in particular, has decided to deploy heavy police force in and around Bhima-Koregaon on January 1. "We will be increasing the police deployment ten times than what it was last time. Overall we are looking to deploy around 5,000 police personnel in and around Koregaon-Bhima on January 1 next year. The deployment will be something like the security arrangements during Pandharpur wari," said Sandip Patil, superintendent of Pune rural police.
Pune rural police have a total force of around 2,700 police personnel but to meet the requirement of January 1, Patil stated that additional force will be pressed in from other districts.
Along with the heavy deployment of force, this time the entire event - right from setting up of stalls, parking facilities, transport arrangements - will be supervised by the administration.
Patil said, "Since November, multiple government agencies like police, district collectorate, Zilla Parishad, Public Works Department (PWD) along with the villagers are holding meetings to ensure peaceful gathering at the victory pillar on January 1. This time, we have decided to supervise every aspect including deciding where to set up stalls, where to park vehicles and also where to hold public rallies."
The village of Bhima-Koregaon and adjoining areas had witnessed violence on January 1 this year when thousands of visitors had gathered at victory pillar to mark the 200th anniversary of the Koregaon-Bhima battle fought between Peshwas and the army of East India Company consisting of soldiers from Dalit community.
The violence had erupted between two communities which resulted in the death of one person. The violence at Koregaon-Bhima generated strong reactions from different parts of the country where subsequent violence was witnessed.
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