VBA chief Prakash Ambedkar raises issue of ‘intelligence failure’ in affidavit before Koregaon-Bhima Commission

A two-member commission, headed by retired high court judge J N Patel, is probing the cause of the violence in the Koregaon-Bhima area on January 1, 2018, in which one person died and several others were injured.

Violence had taken place at a time when a large number of Dalits, mainly Ambedkarites, had gathered at the ‘Jaystambh’ (war monument erected by the British) in Perne to commemorate the 200th anniversary of the battle of Koregaon-Bhima.

Prakash Ambedkar claimed there was an intelligence failure at the time of the Koregaon-Bhima violence, similar to that observed in the 26/11 terror attack in Mumbai when actionable inputs were received but were not acted upon.

In his affidavit, filed through his lawyer Kiran Kadam, Prakash Ambedkar asked the commission to find out whether “Intelligence (DG)” got any input regarding untoward incidents on January 1, 2018, and if so, what action was taken on it.

Speaking to the media, Prakash Ambedkar said an inquiry should be done to find the level at which intelligence failure had happened so that the “loopholes” are known.

He blamed Hindutva outfits and their supporters in the government for playing a role in Koregaon-Bhima violence. To avoid such incidents in the future, Prakash Ambedkar stated that the then chief minister Devendra Fadnavis, then chief secretary Sumit Mallick (who is also a member of the commission), Suvez Haque, the then superintendent of police (Pune rural), and Rashmi Shukla, the then Commissioner of Pune city police, should be called as witnesses before the commission.

Prakash Ambedkar was a key speaker at the Elgaar Parishad, a conclave held in Pune, a day before the violence on January 1, 2018. According to Pune City Police’s probe, Elgaar Parishad was allegedly organised as per the strategy of the banned CPI-Maoist, and speeches delivered at the conclave and previous campaigns for the event were among the factors that caused the January 1 violence. The probe into this case was later taken over by the National Investigation Agency (NIA).

However, Prakash Ambedkar has blamed Hindutva leaders Sambhaji Bhide and Milind Ekbote for the Koregaon-Bhima violence. In his affidavit, Prakash Ambedkar mentioned the affidavit filed in the Supreme Court by the Pune rural police, which blamed Ekbote for violence. “Ekbote was arrested, but no action was taken against Bhide. It should be known whether any officials from the government or any political leaders gave instructions for not arresting Bhide,” the affidavit mentions.

Bhide is a resident of Sangli. Prakash Ambedkar has asked the commission to collect CCTV footage from the state transport bus stands in Sangli between December 29 and 31, 2017, to find out who came to Pune from there and investigate their role in the violence.

Prakash Ambedkar also stated that sarpanches, and gram sevaks, among others, who allegedly opposed the program at Jaystambh on January 1, 2018, should also be investigated. He also said that the probe should find out why the Pune city police blamed Elgaar Parishad for Koregaon-Bhima violence.

Prakash Ambedkar said he has attached some suspicious social media chats with the affidavit. “We had given these chats to then chief minister Fadnavis, who also ordered an inquiry into it. The outcome of this inquiry should be known.,” he said.

Following an application filed by the commission’s lawyer Aashish Satpute, the commission issued a “letter of request” to Prakash Ambedkar twice, asking him to appear on March 27 and June 5. He then submitted a letter asking the commission to call Fadnavis and Mallick prior to his deposition. Prakash Ambedkar stated that he wanted to cross-examine the two before the commission.

In his application, Satpute had stated that it was necessary to consider Prakash Ambedkar’s suggestions to know what more powers, tools and machinery can be given to police officers so they would be in a better position to control situations like “political bandh, communal riots, political agitation, etc” and prevent such incidents in future.

Commission secretary V V Palnitkar said Prakash Ambedkar’s affidavit has been received. “Ambedkar might be called for recording his witness statement. He also wants to cross-examine police officers before the commission. Next hearings of the commission would take place in Pune between August 24 and 31,” said Palnitkar.