Panel seeks inputs from those affected

THE PANEL WILL HAVE SIX REFERENCE POINTS, INCLUDING PUTTING THE ONUS AND FINDING THE CAUSE, CONSEQUENCES OF JANUARY 1 VIOLENCE

PUNE: A two-member Bhima Koregaon inquiry panel published its terms of reference on Saturday.

The panel will be taking into consideration statements and affidavits from individuals affected by the violence, which had erupted after some people pelted stones at cars heading towards the village for the commemoration of 200 years of Bhima-koregaon war, on January 1.

Seeking inputs from the affected people, the commission will accept statements from individuals, groups, non-governmental organisations and political parties.

The two-member commission is headed by Jainarayan Patel, retired chief justice of Calcutta and Sumit Mullick, former chief secretary of the Maharashtra government. The commission is inquiring whether an organisation, person or group of people were responsible for the incident and will also conclude whether the Pune district administration and police were prepared to contain a law and order situation. The police action taken after the violence broke out will also be under the commission’s radar.

The panel will have six points of reference, including putting the onus of the incident and finding the causes and consequences of the violence.

Multiple cases were filed in the aftermath of the violence. Miind Ekbote, leader, Samasta Hindu Aghadi. Ekbote, along with Sambhaji Bhide, president of Shivaji Pratishthan, were booked for attempted murder.

A case against Jignesh Mevani and Umar Khalid was also registered for their speech at a public gathering.