Activist instigated Dalits, say Pune cops
MUMBAI: The Pune police, while opposing activist Arun Ferreira’s bail on Wednesday, told the Bombay HC it had proof that Ferreira, along with others arrested in the Bhima Koregaon violence in 2018, had been instigating Dalits to overthrow the government.
The bench of justice PN Deshmukh was hearing the bail applications of Ferreira and Vernon Gonsalves. The Pune police, through an affidavit by Shivaji Pawar, assistant police commissioner, Pune, told the bench that the arrested activist along with other alleged senior members were promoting the activities of the banned organisation Communist Part of India (CPI) (Maoist) and hence, the bail plea should be rejected. The affidavit said during investigations, it had come to light that the banned outfit was trying to seize power by overthrowing the government established by law. “With a view to attain this motive, the organisation is waging not the old type of conventional war, but a people’s war. It is mobilising public on a massive scale, both militarily and politically,” the affidavit said.
It further states that Ferreira is a senior member of the cadre and involved in recruiting the Dalits so they can participate in toppling the government.