Post Bhima-Koregaon violence, two lodge FIR against urban Naxals

In the aftermath of the Bhima-Koregaon caste violence in Maharashtra, suspected to be the handywork of urban naxals, the National Security Council (NSC) has ordered the security assessment of two Pune-based social activists who had lodged an FIR against urban naxals.

Tushar Damgude and Akshay Bikkad of Pune, who took up cudgels against the suspects, had lodged FIR against Jignesh, Umar Khaled and urban naxals belonging to Kabir Kala Manch after Bhima-Koregaon violence for inciting violence and spreading hatred.

Damgude, while talking to DNA, said that he was under constant threat and was being harassed through phone calls. "I have already recorded several of these calls where they threaten me and have provided them to the police. In addition, I have also lodged another complaint with the police in which I have expressed my apprehensions that I might be targeted in some other way, may be under SC/ST Act or through some false complaints from women," Damgude said.

Earlier, RSS-affiliated Legal Rights Observatory (LRO) had urged NSC to make security assessment for the duo as naxals might target them just as they did with LRO activists in May 2017.

LRO national convenor Vinay Joshi had written to the National Security Advisor (NSA) for providing security to the two activists. It said the request was being made fearing reprisals by urban naxals citing that "the naxals have a history of using brute force and violence against their opponents".

On January 1, the violence at Bhima-Koregaon left one dead and injured several others, including 10 policemen.