Pune: The police could be seen on a war footing on Tuesday as they arrested 5 prominent activists including Sudha Bharadwaj, Arun Ferreira, Vernon Gonsalves, Gautam Navlakha and Varavara Rao in connection with the Bhima Koregaon incident that had incited violence last year.
Similar raids were also conducted across several parts of the country in the houses of lawyers, intellectuals, and human rights activists for having alleged Maoist links.
Pune Joint Commissioner of Police (law and order) said that the raids conducted are in connection with the allegations of Maoist links with the Elgaar Parishad. The Police sources said that the speeches made by the Elgar Parishad had incited violence during the Bhima Koregaon event.
According to reports, activist Sudha Bharadwaj has been charged with Section 153A (Promoting enmity between different groups on grounds of religion), Section 505 (Statements conducing to public mischief), and Section 117 (Abetting commission of an offense by the public or by more than 10 persons) and section 120 of the Indian Penal Code.
Police sources also said that searches are being conducted across Hyderabad, Ranchi, Delhi, Chhattisgarh, and Mumbai.
Police sources said that searches started from the wee hours of the day and shall be carried out throughout the day. Several documents have been recovered which will be scrutinized.
The raids are being conducted to arrest them who had allegedly made provocative speeches at the Elgar Parishad on December 31 last year.