Top Indian activists held over caste violence

International Desk: Five prominent Indian activists have been arrested in connection with caste-based violence in the western state of Maharashtra earlier this year.

Sudha Bharadwaj, Gautam Navlakha and Varavara Rao were picked up from their homes in different Indian cities.

Police in Pune later confirmed that Vernon Gonsalves and Arun Ferreira were also under arrest.

The homes of other leftist lawyers and scholars were also raided as part of an investigation into the violence.

Five others with Maoist links were arrested in June in connection with the same investigation.

Police say that the activists incited Dalits (formerly untouchables) at a large public rally on 31 December 2017, leading to violent clashes that left one person dead.

Dalit groups had gathered in the city of Pune to commemorate the 200th anniversary of the Battle of Koregaon. Dalits regard the battle - in which they fought alongside British colonial forces to defeat an upper-caste ruler - as the first battle against caste oppression.

But a day after the rally, clashes broke out between Dalits and right-wing groups, who reportedly opposed the celebrations.

Agencies


risingbd/Dhaka/Aug 29, 2018/Nasim