Somnath Suryawanshi, a 35-year-old aspirant who had travelled from Pune to Parbhani to appear for a law entrance examination, was among the 50 individuals detained by the Parbhani police on December 11 and 12, 2024, in connection with the violence that erupted after the desecration of a replica of the Constitution on December 10. Suryawanshi was allegedly picked up by the police on December 11. He died four days later, on December 15, while in judicial custody. According to police accounts, he collapsed due to shock from multiple injuries and was taken to a government hospital after complaining of chest pain inside the Parbhani district central prison.

However, a magisterial inquiry concluded on March 20, 2025, had clearly held the police responsible for Suryawanshi’s custodial death. In response, the Maharashtra State Human Rights Commission had issued notices to top state officials, including the Chief Secretary, Additional Chief Secretary (Home), Additional Director General of Police (CID – Crime), and the Deputy Superintendent of Police of Parbhani, seeking comprehensive reports.

Representing the petitioner Vijayabai Vyankat Suryawanshi, the deceased’s mother, advocate Prakash Ambedkar, assisted by advocates Sandesh More and Hitendra Gandhi, strongly argued for immediate registration of an FIR against the police officers allegedly responsible. The petitioner further demanded the constitution of a court-monitored Special Investigation Team (SIT) to ensure an independent and impartial probe into the custodial death. Advocate Gandhi questioned the credibility of a police-led inquiry in a case where the police are themselves accused, asserting that continuing the current investigation would only further erode public trust in the system.

Drawing parallels with the precedent set in the 2023 Badlapur custodial death case, where the Bombay High Court had ordered an SIT to probe the custodial killing of Akshay Shinde—an accused in a sexual assault case allegedly killed in a staged encounter—advocate Gandhi urged the court to issue similar directions in Suryawanshi’s case. In the Badlapur matter, Justices Revati Mohite Dere and Neela Gokhale had ordered an SIT led by Joint Commissioner of Police (Crime), Mumbai, Lakhmi Gautam, and allowed him to form his own team, led by a Deputy Commissioner of Police, with officers from any department of his choosing.

During Tuesday’s proceedings, public prosecutor A.B. Girase, representing the Maharashtra government, informed the court that the state intends to file an affidavit in response to the concerns raised.

The court’s restraint order, along with its strong observations, underscores a growing judicial intolerance toward the mishandling of custodial death investigations. It also signals a potential shift towards stricter judicial oversight in such cases. If the court accedes to the petitioner’s demand for an SIT and guidelines for handling custodial deaths, the outcome of this case could have far-reaching consequences for accountability mechanisms in police custody cases across the state.

Related:

Magistrate probe indicts Parbhani police in Somnath Suryawanshi custodial death: MSHRC

Parbhani police under scrutiny: Fact-finding report exposes allegations of brutality, illegality, and constitutional violations

Massive all-party march in Parbhani demands justice for Dalit youth’s custodial death

Special Report: ‘They came like monkeys; they came like Nazis.’ Ambedkari Bastis in Parbhani face the traumas of police brutality

The post Biased and Preconceived: Bombay HC criticises police inquiry into Parbhani custodial death of Somnath Suryawanshi appeared first on SabrangIndia.

The three-volume report of the Magisterial Inquiry that runs into 451 pages, was taken cognisance of the Maharashtra State Human Rights Commission (MSHRC) which stated at its hearing on March 20 that it had clubbed multiple complaints concerning the incident to “avoid conflicting orders”. As reported in The Times of India and The Hindu, the MSHRC following the March 20 hearing has stated, “Perusal of the report of the magisterial inquiry shows that the Ld. judicial magistrate has concluded that Somnath Vyankat Suryawanshi was assaulted at police station.”

Apart from the stark case of death in custody related to Somnath Suryawanshi that is being heard by the MSHRC, allegations of police lawlessness included the brute handling of women and minors during combing operations following an incident of “desecration of the Preamble” on Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar’s statute on December 10. Combing operations began on December 11 itself and thereafter police took close to three dozen persons into custody. It was late on December 14 that Somnath was transferred to judicial custody. There were severe marks on his person and those of others detained. Thereafter, Suryavanshi developed chest pain and breathing difficulties, leading to his death on Dec 15 at a hospital. A panel of medical officers performed a post-mortem, with the provisional report stating the cause of death as “shock following multiple injuries”. The post-mortem findings and CCTV camera footage gathered during the investigation were instrumental in establishing police involvement in the assault.

The magisterial report may also contain remedial steps taken in the matter and the compensation, if any, quantified by the state in the matter, stated the MSHRC. The Commission then issued notices to the state government and police officials, seeking their response on the findings. Besides, MSHRC also stated, as reported in sections of the media, that the report of additional director general and Prabhani superintendent of police (CID) must contain the progress of inquiry into the accidental death case and consequent registration of the crime in the matter. The matter will be next heard on June 23.

On January 23, an independent fact-finding report had been released by citizens, backed by Citizens for Justice and Peace (CJP), uncovering a series of human rights violations and police atrocities in Parbhani, Maharashtra following the desecration of a Constitution replica on December 10, 2024. The incidents, marked by custodial violence, caste-based discrimination, and administrative failures, have shaken the conscience of the nation. The report, compiled by a team of legal experts, activists, and journalists, painted a sombre picture of systemic injustice against Dalit communities. The report is titledUnfettered Police Brutalities: PARBHANI –Fact-Finding Report on Allegations of Brute, Unlawful & Anti-Constitutional Conduct by Parbhani Police (December 10-15, 2024). “The report documents harrowing accounts of police combing operations in Dalit-majority areas like Bhim Nagar, Priyadarshini Nagar, and Sarang Nagar. Residents reported police breaking into homes, assaulting men and women, including minors and elderly individuals, and using caste-based slurs. Women recounted instances of extreme violence, including injuries on their private parts, and detainees were allegedly tortured in custody with blows to their feet and palms to conceal visible injuries. The brute violence and unchecked brutalities displayed by police during the beatings of women and the young in their homes during the combing operations and after that in custody have violated all laws and statutes including directions by the Supreme Court on police conduct towards those in custody.”

Now, in the latest developments, the MSHRC has issued notice to officers concerned, based on the magistrate’s findings. The MSHRC chairperson Justice A M Badar and its member Sanjay Kumar issued the directive after relying on and citing Parbhani judicial magistrate’s investigation report, seeking responses from chief secretary and senior officers over the issue, indicating that the magistrate “had indicted police officials in the custodial death of Somnath Venkat Suryawanshi.” According to the magistrate, Parbhani police officials named in his report are responsible for the custodial death of Suryawanshi, it added.

Suryavanshi’s brother, accompanied by his mother, appeared before the Commission and said they want to appoint their preferred advocate to pursue their complaint before the MSHRC. Earlier, the Suryavanshi family had declined a compensation of Rs 10 lakh offered by state govt. They had expressed disappointment over the token act of a mere suspension of the police personnel involved in the matter and had demanded that all 12 criminal complaints sought to be filed by the victim Dalit community including two by Vijayatai Suryawanshi, Somnath’s mother be registered as FIRs. They have also demanded that a case of culpable homicide be registered against the officers.

Related:

Fact-Finding report on Parbhani violence raises serious questions

Unfettered police brutalities in Parbhani

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The protesters voiced demands for rehabilitation of the families affected by these incidents, especially Somnath Suryavanshi’s family, and called for the dismissal of high-ranking officials allegedly involved in covering up the cases. This protest, which started in Parbhani on the evening of January 17, follows weeks of growing tension in Marathwada over caste-related issues, with the protests intensifying in recent weeks due to the escalating violence and the perceived injustice in both incidents.

Samata Sainik Dal (Parbhani) is organizing a long march from Parbhani to Mumbai.

The main demand of this march is that when will the family of martyr Somnath Suryavanshi die/be murdered in police custody and due to the delay in this case, when will justice be given to his family… pic.twitter.com/km0agJjO2T

— हेमंत भाऊ (@NetaClix) January 17, 2025

Scheduled long March in Jalna district and Parbhani to Mumbai

From January 21 to 25, 2025, a significant long march will take place in Jalna District, aiming to raise awareness about the brutal murders of Somnath Suryavanshi and Santosh Deshmukh. The march will begin at Watur Phata, Watur, and will conclude at Badnapur.

Notably, the protesters from Parbhani have organized a long march from Parbhani to Mumbai in response to the recent incident and the ongoing atrocities against Dalits and killing of Santosh and Somnath.

Violence and tensions after Dalit youth dies in custody, following Constitution replica vandalism

The tension in Parbhani boiled over after an incident involving the vandalism of a constitution replica on December 10, 2024. As per eyewitnesses, the incident was allegedly carried out by Sopan Pawar, a 45-year-old Maratha man. This act triggered protests from Dalit groups and Ambedkarite organizations, with the Vanchit Bahujan Aaghadi (VBA) party playing a pivotal role in mobilizing the crowds.

The following day, a “Parbhani Bandh” (strike) was declared, which, while initially peaceful, later descended into chaos. Protesters clashed with the police, leading to multiple vehicles being torched and property being damaged. According to the police, they arrested 50 people involved in the unrest, among them Somnath Suryavanshi, a 35-year-old Dalit youth. Suryavanshi, who had been detained during the protests, later died in judicial custody on December 15 due to what was reported as “shock following multiple injuries” reported Frontline.

His death has sparked outrage, with many accusing the police of brutality. According to local sources, Suryavanshi’s mother, Vijaya, claimed that her son had been beaten by the police, leading to his death. Her claims were substantiated by a postmortem report, which confirmed external injuries. However, the police have denied allegations of abuse, stating that Suryavanshi’s death was due to natural causes.

Dalit groups have condemned the police’s treatment of protesters, especially the manner in which Dalit youth were targeted. Prakash Ambedkar, leader of the VBA, demanded an investigation into the police’s role, highlighting the ongoing issues of caste discrimination. He was quoted as saying, “The real battle for equality is still being fought, and we must ensure justice for every oppressed community.”

Dalit and political outrage over Police brutality and murder in Parbhani and Beed

Several political parties and social organizations are raising their voices in protest over the death of Somnath Suryavanshi in judicial custody and the kidnapping and subsequent murder of Santosh Deshmukh, the Maratha Sarpanch in Beed. According to Dalit groups, the police’s crackdown on protesters in Parbhani was disproportionately harsh, with claims of excessive use of force against Dalit youth and women.

In response to the incidents, the Matang Ekta Andolan and Republican Party of India (RPI) staged protests in Pune, demanding an independent inquiry into the events. As per sources, the police have been accused of carrying out violent search operations, targeting individuals without any solid evidence of involvement in unlawful activities.

Further compounding the unrest was the murder of Deshmukh, which escalated tensions between the Maratha and OBC communities. According to reports, Vishnu Chate, the alleged kidnapper and murderer, belongs to the Vanjari OBC community, and the growing friction over reservation issues has deepened the divide between caste groups.

The tragic events in Parbhani and Beed have led to an outpouring of support for both families involved, with political leaders from across Maharashtra rallying behind the victims. Prakash Ambedkar, addressing the media, drew parallels between these incidents and the historical struggles against discrimination, notably the Koregaon Bhima battle, marking over 200 years of ongoing battles for equality.

Struggle for equality in Beed and Parbhani echoes historical caste struggles

Prakash Ambedkar, while commemorating the 207th anniversary of the Koregaon Bhima battle, linked the present-day struggles in Parbhani and Beed to the ongoing battle for equality in India. As per Ambedkar’s statement, despite the long history of caste discrimination, the incidents in Parbhani and Beed reveal that the struggle for social justice and equality is far from over.

Ambedkar cautioned the Maharashtra government about the sensitive handling of the Beed murder case, which has been cast in a Maratha versus Vanjari OBC context. He stressed the importance of avoiding further division and ensuring that justice prevails for all communities involved. Meanwhile, Chandrashekhar Azad of Bhim Army visited Parbhani to meet Suryavanshi’s family and vowed to continue the protests to expose the government’s failures in addressing the plight of Dalits and marginalized communities.

These events have thrown the spotlight on the persistent caste fault lines in Maharashtra, exacerbated by the government’s handling of these incidents. The continuing unrest calls for a deeper introspection into the state’s caste politics and its impact on the marginalized sections of society, reported Times of India.

Massive all-party march in Parbhani over Beed sarpanch’s murder

According to reports, a massive all-party march was organized in Parbhani, Maharashtra, demanding a thorough and unbiased investigation into the murder of Santosh Deshmukh, the sarpanch of Massajog village in Beed district. The protest also targeted the state’s food and civil supplies minister, Dhananjay Munde, who stands accused of shielding Walmik Karad, the alleged mastermind of the murder. Karad surrendered to the police just days prior, adding fuel to the fire of political and caste tensions.

The march, which saw a turnout of thousands, included elected representatives, political leaders, and Maratha community organizations. It marks the second major protest following Deshmukh’s murder. The previous protest on December 28, 2024, in Beed had also garnered massive support, with around 50,000 participants. The Parbhani march was attended by influential figures from both ruling and opposition parties, underlining the political ramifications of the crime.

As per the march organizers, the demands were clear: an impartial investigation, punishment for the politically powerful individuals behind the crime, and the immediate resignation of Dhananjay Munde. BJP MLA Suresh Dhas, speaking at the rally, argued that Munde was deeply involved in a multi-crore crop insurance scam in the region, which he claimed had far-reaching implications.

The murder of Santosh Deshmukh, a Maratha leader, has been exacerbated by the caste dynamics at play. Karad, the primary accused, hails from the Vanjari community, an OBC group, and this has sparked a war of words between Maratha and OBC factions in the region. As per the leaders present at the protest, the case is symptomatic of a larger political crisis within Maharashtra’s power structure.

Panel formed for Judicial probe into Beed Sarpanch’s murder and Parbhani protester’s custodial death

In response to mounting public outrage, the Maharashtra Government has appointed two judicial committees to probe significant incidents in Beed and Parbhani. A single-member panel, led by retired High Court Judge M.L. Tahaliyani, has been established to investigate the murder of Sarpanch Santosh Deshmukh in Beed district. The violence that led to Deshmukh’s murder sparked intense political and social unrest, prompting the state to initiate the judicial inquiry.

Additionally, the government has appointed retired Judge V.L. Achliya to investigate the custodial death of Dalit protester Somnath Suryavanshi in Parbhani. The investigation will assess the role of law enforcement, examine the handling of the protests, and determine if there were any lapses in maintaining public order.

As per report, both inquiries aim to hold accountable those responsible for the incidents and evaluate the preparedness of local authorities.

Related

Special Report: ‘They came like monkeys; they came like Nazis.’ Ambedkari Bastis in Parbhani face the traumas of police brutality

State-sanctioned brutality? Dalit communities targeted in Parbhani “combing operations”, women, children abused

No quality education without teaching equality, secularism, fraternity value: SC

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It was on December 10 when the incident of one Datta Sopan Pawar allegedly vandalising the preamble of the Constitution kept in front of the statue of Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar occurred. This resulted in palpable tensions in the city. But this was the initial phase. Thereafter, Datta Sopan Pawar was allegedly manhandled and beaten by some ‘Ambedkarites’ who witnessed the incident. A doctor, on the condition of anonymity, disclosed that Datta Sopan Pawar was on drugs related to mental illness. It was then that the police ‘made interventions’ and claimed ‘they took ‘necessary action against him.’ The next day, December 11, however, local Ambedkarite organisations called for a ‘bandh’ in the city. During this, a mob of youth & teenagers, along with women, allegedly came out to the prominent areas of the city, like the District Magistrate (DM)’s office, Vyapari Sankul (Commercial Complex), & Visava corner. The mob of approximately 100 people allegedly went on the rampage and ransacked the DM’s office, tore documents there, and damaged the furniture amidst sloganeering. Then members of the mob also allegedly destroyed the small vendors’ stalls, looted money from the galas (cash counters) of pan (betel leaf) shops, and pelted stones on the glass walls of the malls & shops. This carried on for reportedly an hour. Witnesses say there were no police seen on the roads for that entire one hour. After an hour police appeared and started controlling the mob by imposing Section 144. Police called in the SRPF as well and started combing operations in some of the Ambedkarite bastis of Parbhani, according to the version of local citizens. Datta Sopan Pawar is now in jail at an unknown location according to information given by Additional SP of Parbhani Yashwant Kale.

Meanwhile, police also arrested around 40 people for ‘disturbing the law and order in the city’. Some people said they were surprised that in the FIR, the first name noted was that of Ambedkari leader, Vijay Vakode, who thereafter died on December 17 due to a sudden heart attack. Vakode was, in fact, one of the members of the peace committee formed by the police. Now, police have released all the people from the custody, against whom cases were filed, according to Ganpat Bhise and Dr. Sunil Jadhav, Ambedkari activists (follower of Ambedkar ideology). But days after the arrests, on December 15 news of Somanth Suryawanshi’s death became public. On December 14, all ‘accused’ had been transferred from police to MCR custody. Somnath Suryawanshi was a 35-year-old law student studying at Shivaji Law College, Parbhani. His custodial death has created a storm in social and political circles. Initially, police claimed that Suryawanshi had a heart attack and died. But later –on the vigilant insistence of local advocates and activists –his body was taken to Aurangabad Ghati Hospital, and postmortem (PM) was done in camera. The PM report stated that the cause of the death was ‘shock following multiple injuries.’ According to Somnath’s classmates and activists in the agitation, Somnath was capturing the videos of the police brutality, and that’s the only reason police seized him & then beat him to death. Meanwhile, CM Devendra Fadanvis, while replying to a debate on this issue in the State Legislature on Friday, December 20, declared a financial aid of Rs. 10 lakh to the family of Somanth Suryawanshi. Fadanvis also stated that the injuries found on the body of Somnath were old and police are not to be blamed for those. Fadnavis’ reactions in the State Assembly have not helped alleviate tensions, in fact raised questions on the state’s willingness or ability to conduct an impartial inquiry into the deaths and injuries caused by the combing operations.

Sabrangindia has detailed the chronology of arrests and legal interventions in its report that may also be read here.

Priyadarshini Nagar is a basti with an approximate population of 800 alongside Parbhani’s Vasmat road. The residents are closely associated with each other. Ashok Ubale and Ganpat Bhise, the social activists from the Ambedkarite movements, took me inside the narrow lanes of Basti. Ramesh, a 55-year-old daily wage worker (name has been changed for security reasons), narrated the trauma of December 11. He also shared a story of unexpected police actions that impacted on the life of the couple.

In a week, shaking voice, he says, “They were all wearing headgear, iron-shielded uniforms, and whatnot. We were all weaponless as well as helpless. Kunitari zopet dhonda ghatlyasarkha hota baga te sagla maay…(It was all like someone kills you with a huge stone when you are in a deep sleep). Now I am not able to decide how to sleep, as there is pain emanating from all over my body. Police beat me up, and they just left. Nothing is on the record. I have no evidence of all this brutality except my wounds!”

His wife, Sumantai (name has been changed for security reasons), says that she was working in the kitchen when police came with no intimation and just started beating her husband and asking him repeatedly if he was present in the protests yesterday. “My husband tried to convince them that he was very weak and went to work that very day, but they didn’t believe him. I went all out and tried to save my husband. In this process, they beat me as well.” Sumantai shows me her swollen right hand. “Now I am struggling with daily household chores as my right hand is damaged. My husband has not been able to rejoin his work for the last 10 days. We both are daily wage workers. Now I need to give him a bath as he can’t bathe on his own. All of my daughters are married and live in different cities. Our son studies in Standard X, and now he is compelled to work in a garage.” One can see a deep half-ripened wound on the shoulder bones of Ramesh.

I went to the Taluka court in the evening. I was looking for Somnath Suryawanshi’s mother. Taluka Court officials took the statement of Vijayabai Suryawanshi for 3 hours as she had filed a complaint against the cops saying that they should be held responsible for the custodial death of her 35-year-old son, Somnath Suryawanshi, who belonged to the Vadaar (Nomadic Tribe) community. We both had a word in the backyard of the court at 5:30 pm on the eve of December 18. Lalu Jadhav, an activist from Vadar Samaj Sanghatana, and some activists from Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi were accompanying her. Her advocate, Pawan Jondhale, was also there.

“Maza lekru nyayacha shikshan ghet hota, tebi dagad fodun, tyachyawar kiti motha anyay kela baga police lokanni.” My son was studying law along with breaking the gravel. But the police have taken utterly unlawful actions against him. Vijayabai keeps speaking amidst tears. Two of her other sons, Premnath and Avinash, keep consoling her. Avinash has completed an M.Sc. (Physics) as well as a B.Ed. degree and Premnath has done his B.Sc. along with his B.Ed. “My son was a bright, shining diamond in a stone mine. He was always focused when it came to education. He had acquired multiple degrees like Babasaheb Ambedkar. Recently he had qualified for the PET exam for pursuing a Ph.D. from Babasaheb Ambedkar Marathwada University. He was working as a LIC agent as well. My son Somnath and I were both struggling continuously to solve the monetary issues in the family. Somanth had always helped his siblings with education. After his father died in 2018, he was the backbone of my family.” Premnath adds to this account, “Somnath was working as a journalist for some media platform. He kept showing his Law & Journalist I-cards to the police that day, but this was of no use. He was in contact with us till December 11. Then afterwards, there was no connection. We were not informed after five days that Somnath had been abducted by the police. Then the cops called us directly when he got a so-called heart attack. He was in police custody for two days, and then he was moved to judicial custody. He was brutally beaten in the PCR. Then he was taken to the MCR. PM reports are clear enough to disclose the cause of his death. Is this all a legal process? Somanth’s seized mobile has not been returned to us yet. We are going to file an appeal soon for that. We have also filed an FIR against the police. In response they have given us a signature-stamped paper as a response to our FIR but no copy of the FIR.

Somnath’s last rites were performed on the eve of December 16. A large crowd was present for the same. I had a word with some of Somnath’s classmates. According to them, he was very sincere and aware. He had always struggled to balance between his bread and butter commitments and  academics. His friends also added that he was not present at the time of any violence but protested peacefully with a pen and diary in his hands on December 11.

Vatsalabai Manvate is an untrained medical helper in a private hospital, mostly on a night shift. But this is not her only identity. She is an Insta Reelstar. While struggling with daily life, she manages to make some reels about Babasaheb Ambedkar, her basti life, dhamma festivals, and all.

Swati (name changed for security reasons), her daughter-in-law, was at home in a hurry to make a tiffin for hospitalised Vatsalabai. She expresses herself fearlessly, “My mother-in-law, Vatsalabai, is a tech-savvy woman. She is also an honest follower of Babasaheb Ambedkar’s teachings. Due to this background of hers, that day, she started shooting the live videos of police and SRPF beating the innocent basti people without any strong evidence or paperwork. That was the only thing that went against her, and the police not only beat her but also molested her sexually. Two of the male police pressed her thighs, some of them pulled her hair, and the remaining police and SRPF mob beat her, which has resulted in serious injuries all over the body, including the areas of her private parts. The CCTV footage of the same incident is now viral all over the internet. Now I feel like the cops are like some goons wearing a police uniform. ‘Mungicha jeev baarik asto tila sagle ragditaat… tasa zalay aamcha.’ (The lives of ants are so tiny and insignificant that anyone can kill them, and the same is our case.)”

https://www.instagram.com/vachlabai/?igsh=MThqOGt2OTh4OHRwYw%

In the ICU ward of the Parbhani District Civil Hospital, bed no. 6 is a sensation for other patients and hospital staff as influential political figures, social activists & police officials keep making rounds of that bed to meet the patient. It is where the 50 year old Vatsalabai Manvate rests, recovering. A fair-skinned, grey-eyed, beautiful lady. One can sense the hardships of her life by looking at the fit and strong physique she holds. But when I went to meet her, I found her hands shivering with pain and trauma from the violence thrashing upon her.

Vatsalabai was lying on the bed wearing a nylon saree with her whole body covered with blankets. She said it was hard for her to get up. “What was my crime, that they beat me in such an insulting way? I need justice; I am not going to keep mum. I was not able to sleep at night the past few days. I had already undergone angiography some years ago. Besides that, I am a BP patient. I was continuously telling these facts to the police and SRPF, but they didn’t stop the assault. Targeting my knees, hands, legs, and private parts, they kept molesting me verbally & physically. During this assault, I requested that I needed to pee. One of them said, “Kholtes ki naahi mobile cha lock? Nasta tula aata ithach mutavto ki naahi baghch tu!” (If you are not going to unlock your mobile for us, I will forcefully make you pee here right now.”) There were women cops, but the male police beat me more than the women. Police forced me to unlock my mobile, seized it, and haven’t given it back till today.

One of the youth in Ahilyanagar spoke to me anonymously: “There were rumors all over in the air within our Basti that ‘they’ are going to come back again in the night. Our kids still wake up crying in the dark hours. Children, old-age people, breastfeeding women—no one was spared. Verbal abuse by the police was vile. They have also beaten 12-14-year-old teenagers. Many of the youth are wearing plasters on their hands or feet. Anyone can see the doors, windows, and vehicles were broken with boot kicks and lathis. Police had also used tear gas. Are we some kind of terrorists for the state?”

His friends participated in the discussion. He says, “Here in our city, there is a popular proverb, ‘Jagaat Germany, Bhartaat Parbhani.’ (When one looks at the world, there is Germany, so as in India, there is Parbhani.) Ironically, Germany holds the history of Nazi brutality. So this is the same replication happening in the Ambedkari Bastis of Parbhani now. So many of our women and youth have captured the live footage of police and SRPF violence. We have the evidence with us. Just this question remains: What action will be taken by the current home minister & state police authorities against all this? To date, no one from the ruling party has come here to witness the sufferings & property losses we have undergone. We are feeling excluded & targeted in a democratic state.” ^[1]

Both of them led me to the residence of Pranita (name changed for security reasons). Pranita is a breastfeeding mother. Her first daughter is three years old, and the second one is a newborn of two months. Recalling the incident, she breaks down in tears again and again and says, “I still get haunted with the echoes of that violence. I was told by some of the neighbours that the police were on the way. My elder daughter was asleep. So I hid in our bathroom with my small baby. Police & SRPF came in a moment and broke the main wooden door of our home. Then they started kicking on the bathroom cement door with tremendous force. This door as well broke down and was going to fall upon me. I got away with a blink of an eye. Then the women police forcefully took me to the front yard and asked me to come and sit in the police van. I kept telling them that I was nowhere in the peaceful agitations happening in the city as I am a breastfeeding mother, but they didn’t pay any attention. They started to beat me with a ‘sundari’ (police stick). Meanwhile, one of our neighbours brought my kids in front of them. Some of the women cops were kind of puzzled to see my kids. They paused for a moment and asked me to go home. I think they were able to smell the future consequences of the incident if they would have picked me up. I still hear the echoes of ‘khol darwajaa… khol darwajaa…’ (open the door… open the door). I still start shivering as I hear the word ‘Police.’ I am feeling feverish.

People say that this is the very first time that their basti has faced such a combing operation. According to some of the residents, police allegedly showed the video of their brutality to residents of other bastis threatening the same consequences! Come sit in the police van; otherwise we will beat you in the same way. One can see the vehicles, like autos and scooters, which have been allegedly damaged by police as there was a sign of Babasaheb Ambedkar painted on them. The residents complain that their desire to cook and eat has decreased tremendously.

This basti is still experiencing the echoes of the alleged brutality. People are terrified to leave their homes. The collective emotion is, “Marnaa ho ka tarnaa ho aata amhala nyay pahije.” (Now we will either get drowned or get to the riverbank, but we want justice at any cost.)

Sambhaji Brigade is a politically and socially active organization of the Maratha community in Maharashtra. Maratha Seva Sangh is their think tank. Balaji Mohite, Gajanan Jogdand, and Swapnil Garud (Sambhaji Brigade) express their deep anguish over all recent developments. They say, “But in a way this was bound to happen. We remember that in the pre-corona times, when Gulabrao Patil was our guardian minister. Some of us went to him on an organisational level and handed him an appeal that said that the security of the Babasaheb Ambedkar Statue is very nominal and weak. We had demanded that the contract be awarded to some better contractor, but this was given to a local one. The statue is on the highway. There are only steel rods that cover the statue. Along with this, the placement of the stand of the Preamble has been so wrong that the glass case covering the preamble can be accessed by anyone randomly. Can the Preamble be kept so handy on the road? There was no action taken on our appeal, and now these violent consequences are there, which could have been avoided. We doubt that the violent mob that broke into the District Magistrate office and shops was local.”

They continue, “We also doubt the very intentions of police and district administration. Firstly, there was a huge mob of around 5,000 people gathering on December 10 near the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj and Babasaheb statue. This was an aggressive morcha by the Sakal Hindu Samaj for raising the issue of violence against Hindus in Bangladesh. To tell the truth, any common citizen would have sensed that not enough precautionary measures were taken to tackle this huge mob if their speeches had led to any tensions. Thereafter, within this overall tense scenario, it is tragic that Datta Sopan Pawar damaged the Preamble and the mob manhandled him brutally. But now the whole city is asking a common question: what prevented the police and administration from enforcing section 144 in the city immediately on that very day? To date, the DM and police have not been able to answer this question. There is one more point: a peace committee meeting with local citizens and the police was called on the same day after the combing operations were done. As committee members, we said that still matters could have been controlled, ‘This should have been reversed.’”

Comrade Rajan Kshirsagar from Parbhani CPI has his own say on the unfolding tensions in the city. Rajan said, “One can draw a pattern when it comes to police brutality in Parbhani. The opposition has already been weakened in the state legislature. So, they don’t have enough power to keep any restraint on the ruling party when it comes to misusing the police force. We are all familiar with the cruel violence thrashing upon Palestine by the forces of Israel. The current chief minister has employed or used the modus operandi of the Israelis in Parbhani Ambedkarite bastis. They are using Parbhani as a lab. One can sense the connection by going deep enough.”

What did the police say…?

IG Shahaji Umap has been in charge, handling all aspects of the unfolding incidents since December 10. Speaking to the writer about this, Umap said, “From the very first day, we have handled the situation to our best ability, in a fair manner. I know many allegations are being raised, like the timing of imposing 144 and using the police and SRPF force to maintain law & order… But we have done this all for a greater good, which was the crucial need of that particular situation. Now the whole case is under judicial inquiry. In this situation, I, as a police authority, should not be commenting on anything. We all should wait & watch now.

I also asked him about seizing the mobile of Somanth Suryawanshi, who belongs to the Vadar (NT-Nomadic Tribe) community & Vatsalabai Manvate (Nav Bouddha) forcefully; it contains their personal data, so does he not see this as a breach of their privacy… IG Umap cross-questioned me, “But Somnath Suryawanshi is dead now, isn’t he? We are doing this all under a legal process.”

Two academicians from Parbhani put forth his interesting observation. They said, “Pushpa – 2 is a massive hit nowadays. This is the era where we are glorifying the antagonists as so-called protagonist heroes. Maharashtra was way better till the ‘Guwahati Campaign’ happened to us. Maharashtra is seen as a state that respects the rule of law when we compare it to other states, and it should remain like that. In the last ten years, the environment has gotten so polluted that we can sense the caste-religion location of our students from their aesthetics and clothes. On the desks of schools & colleges, we keep observing the chants like Jai Shree Ram have been engraved. If there is a lack of education and social sensitivity, then radicalism is bound to get provoked.”

After covering the unfolding events, I was on my train journey from Parbhani to Nanded. A 50-plus year-old lady was sitting in front of me. Along with her, everyone was talking about last week’s tensions in the city. This was no doubt a hot topic for all, everywhere. The lady, from a so-called privileged caste, started to express herself in a considerably raised voice. Her arguments were both anti-reservation and anti-Dalit. She said, “These people, you know, are always the ones who like to show their destructive powers. They cause the damages and then demand money from the government like some kind of aid, “These people also have reservation. They are always the ones who like to show their destructive powers, it is extortion. They want reservation. They just take the whole administrative and social system for granted. They pressurise others by using the tool of ‘atrocities’. I do not want to discriminate but this is the brutal truth.” Some of the fellow travelers nodded  their heads in agreement. Others just kept mum. The nervousness of some of the travelers in the next bogie could be seen through their body language.

The city of Parbhani still possesses the cankers of the violence all over its body. Some political party offices, small vendor ‘thelas’ (small shops at corners), and glass-windowed showrooms still show signs of the damage. People are back to their daily routine, but they have so many unanswered questions in their mind. They keep pouring their hearts out as soon as you try to check them out for some details. Most of the small thelas and shops have been examined by the administration and have been provided with compensation for the damages. Yet there is an invisible anxiety flowing in the city markets.

Shahir Vilas Ghogre had written & composed a poem at the time of the Namantar (Changing of Name) Movement of Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar Marathwada University.

It was titled “Jaltoy Marathwada, bagh jaltoy Marathwada…” (Marathwada is burning; see Marathwada is burning.) Just after a few days of December 6, which is the death anniversary of Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar, how some political people and forces will benefit from the renewed burning of Parbhani in Marathwada, is now the talk of the town.

(The author is an independent journalist and can be reached at sharmishtha.2011@gmail.com)

Photo Credits: All photographs except 2 and 5 by Sharmishtha Bhosale 

[1] Ajit Pawar deputy chief minister met victim of custodial death, Somnath Suryanwanshi’s mother, Vijayabai Suryawanshi and two brothers, Avinash and Premnath on December 22 and promised some aid.

Related:

State-sanctioned brutality? Dalit communities targeted in Parbhani “combing operations”, women, children abused

Protests rage in Parbhani after Dalit activist dies in custody, allegations of police torture

The post Special Report: ‘They came like monkeys; they came like Nazis.’ Ambedkari Bastis in Parbhani face the traumas of police brutality appeared first on SabrangIndia.

The entire tragedy at Parbhani, marked by violent police atrocities and custodial torture, was mitigated, in part, by the timely intervention of senior activists, their legal teams, and local journalists. As the combing operations began, Advocate Pavan Jhondhale and his colleagues swiftly made their way to the police station, where they encountered the terrified families of the victims, who were visibly cowering in fear. Advocate Jhondhale, speaking to SabrangIndia, recounted the chilling scene: “We could hear screams of pain coming from inside the locker room when we were at the police station after the combing operations.”

Advocate Jhondhale highlighted how the advocates were being stopped from meeting the victims. He stated“Following this, they visited the affected areas and made contact with the victims. On December 12, when the victims—seen as accused by the police—were brought to court, their injuries were unmistakable: bleeding, swollen limbs, and other visible signs of torture. The police’s behaviour at the Magistrates Court was hostile. They blocked the advocates from meeting the victims, erecting barricades to prevent communication. This occurred on December 12.”

Sharing how the victims of custodial torture, even after being presented to the court, could not express their pain and abuse that they were facing, Advocate Jhondhale said “Earlier, at the police station, the team had gathered details of the FIRs and the sections under which the victims had been booked. In FIR 590, 27 individuals had been arrested, while in FIR 591, 5 were detained. The advocates requested that the Magistrate ask the accused if they had any complaints about their treatment in police custody. However, out of sheer fear, the victims did not respond. The advocates urged the Magistrate to ask them again, as there were clear signs of injury.”

“When the Magistrate asked again, they still could not detail their treatment, out of intimidation,” Advocate Jhondhale explained. This led Advocate More, his colleague, to argue against extending the police remand due to the ill-treatment the victims had endured. Despite the compelling evidence, the court granted two more days of police custody.

Advocate Jhondhale  stressed on how the conditions of the victims worsened during the next two days that they spent in police custody, “On December 14, the advocates appeared in court again, and by this time, the condition of those who had been arrested had significantly worsened. It was then that the Magistrate ordered the victims to be transferred to Magistrate Custody (MCR). On December 15, a Sunday, all of the victims, including Somnath Suryawanshi, were transferred to MCR. Later that evening, the heartbreaking news came that Somnath Suryawanshi had died.”

While dealing with the fact that Somnath Suryawanshi died due to custodial torture, the team of advocates was also tasked with ensuring that the truth of how Somnath died gets documented and fair procedure is followed. Advocate Jhondhale said “Arguably, had the police custody remand (PCR) not been extended so routinely, a life might not have been lost. The advocates, in their efforts to seek justice, were also directed to the Sessions Court. On the very day of Somnath Suryawanshi’s death, December 15, Advocate Jhondhale provided that they had urgently requested an In Camera post-mortem and forensic examination to be conducted on Suryawanshi not in Parbhani, but in Shambhajinagat (Aurangabad). To ensure this, the advocates had to take the issue of the alleged death in police custody directly to the District Collector at her residential quarters on Sunday evening. They presented the guidelines and cited a Supreme Court judgment to support their demand. As a result of their persistent efforts, the transfer was finally ordered.”

Speaking to the SabrangIndia team, Advocate Pavan Jhondhale was categorical that it was this proactiveness that mitigated what could have turned out to be a far worse situation on the ground. His timely intervention, alongside the efforts of his colleagues and the local community, played a crucial role in addressing the police atrocities and ensuring that the victims’ suffering did not go unnoticed. Without this vigilance and persistence, the situation could have spiraled into something even more tragic.

Notably it was the combined legal and activist efforts of Pavan Jhondhale, Vijay Kale, Mahendra More, Imtiaz Khan, Vishwanath Anbhure, Vijay Sable that ensured some semblance of return to rule of law, in Parbhani post December 10, 2024.

Demands for a judicial inquiry have been made by the local affected population since December 17. In addition to the violent crackdown, several of those who reportedly are either residents of Parbhani or those who were peaceful protesting the desecration of the Constitution on December 10 were arrested on false charges. Among those arrested was Somnath Suryawanshi who succumbed to injuries allegedly inflicted in police custody after he had moved to judicial custody. Speaking to Sabrangindia on the status of the Ambedkarite protestors arrested on charges of rioting, advocate and activist, Rahul Pradhan Pradhan revealed that 26 individuals had been granted bail by the Sessions Court on December 18 and were expected to be released soon. However, five accused remain in jail, though none of them are women or minors.

न्यायासाठी आंदोलन थांबलेले नाही.
परभणी येथे आजपासून “न्याय आंदोलन” सुरू झाले असून परभणीतील सर्व आंबेडकरी समाज पक्षभेद, मतभेद सोडून साखळी आंदोलन करत आहे.

मी ही स्वतः आज या आंदोलनात सहभागी झालो. जो पर्यंत मुख्यमंत्री फडणवीस दोषी पोलिसांवर खुनाचे गुन्हे दाखल करणार नाहीत, तोपर्यंत… pic.twitter.com/oXhhYGt0vt

— Rahul Pradhan – राहूल प्रधान (@RahulPradhan84) December 19, 2024

Opposition protests, growing public discontent with the state government

The custodial death and the sarpanch’s murder became focal points for the opposition during the winter session of the Maharashtra legislature. Members of the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA), including the Congress, Shiv Sena (UBT), and NCP, staged a walkout accusing the government of neglecting law and order. Congress leader Nitin Raut criticised the police and the administration, stating, “The interim medical report confirms police brutality. This is a gross failure of governance, and the government must act immediately to ensure justice.”

सोमनाथ सूर्यवंशीचा पोलीस कोठडीतील मृत्यू अमानुष मारहाणीमुळेच

कायद्याचा विद्यार्थी असलेल्या सोमनाथ सूर्यवंशीची कस्टडी डेथ पोलिसांनी केलेल्या अमाणूष मारहाणीमुळेच झाली. त्यामुळे सूर्यवंशीच्या मृत्यूला जबाबदार असणाऱ्या पोलिसांवर तातडीने गुन्हा दाखल करण्याची मागणी आज सभागृहात केली.… pic.twitter.com/a3wsZzZiD8

— Dr. Nitin Raut (@NitinRaut_INC) December 18, 2024

Speaking in the Assembly, Raut raised the issue of brutality against Dali women by male officers as well. He also took to social media and stated “After the desecration of the Constitution in Parbhani, the police administration took the precautions that should have been taken while this was happening. The police have lathi-charged Buddhists, Bhim Sainiks and those protecting the Constitution. The police have beaten up the mother of a one-and-a-half-month-old child in her house. All this is an outrage. The government demanded in the House to immediately register a case against the guilty police officers and take action.”

परभणीत संविधान विटंबना झाली यानंतर जो काय प्रकार घडला, हे प्रकार घडत असताना पोलीस प्रशासनाने जी दक्षता घ्यायला पाहिजे होती ती घेण्यात आली. बौद्ध लोकांना, भीमसैनिकांना आणि संविधानाचे रक्षण करणाऱ्यांवर पोलिसांनी लाठीचार्ज केला आहे. सव्वा महिन्याच्या मुलाच्या आईला घरात पोलिसांनी… pic.twitter.com/tVkzce2xwT

— Dr. Nitin Raut (@NitinRaut_INC) December 19, 2024

Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Ambadas Danve expressed similar concerns, emphasising that the right to protest was being suppressed under the current regime. Congress MLA Nana Patole argued that the government’s mismanagement of the Parbhani violence and the Beed murder had heightened tensions across the state. Speaker Rahul Narwekar, however, rejected an adjournment motion to discuss these issues immediately, stating that the matter would be taken up later, leading to further outrage among opposition members.

The dual tragedies have led to mounting public anger, with activists, residents, and political leaders demanding accountability. In Parbhani, local residents staged protests alleging that the police crackdown disproportionately targeted Dalit communities. In Beed, Maratha leaders accused the administration of failing to address growing caste tensions.

Activists have raised contentions that the incidents highlight systemic flaws in governance, including police overreach, caste discrimination, and ineffective conflict resolution mechanisms. Opposition parties have called for judicial inquiries into both cases and immediate reforms to prevent such incidents in the future.

Protests and police brutality

The backdrop of these protests lies in the desecration of the Constitution on December 10, an incident that initially led to peaceful demonstrations by Ambedkarite groups. However, according to reports of eye-witnesses from the ground, these protests escalated into violence—an outcome many believe stemmed from law enforcement’s deliberate inaction. Advocate and  activist Rahul Pradhan, who has been on the ground in Parbhani since the incident, told SabrangIndia that the narrative pushed by the police does not reflect the truth. According to Pradhan, the Ambedkarite protests were entirely peaceful and concluded amicably after discussions between protest leaders—including activists Vijay Wakode, Sudhir Salve, and Ravi Kamble—and the police. He emphasised that the violence that later unfolded was not instigated by Ambedkarites but by unknown outsiders who engaged in arson, rioting, and stone pelting while the police stood by as passive onlookers.

Pradhan accused the police of enabling the violence, alleging that law enforcement allowed the hooligans to wreak havoc unchecked for hours. He noted that it wasn’t until the late evening of December 11 that the police began arresting individuals—but shockingly, their focus was on Ambedkarite activists who had peacefully protested rather than the actual perpetrators of the violence. “It seemed as if the police had an agenda, some instructions from above, and they were working according to it,” Pradhan stated.

The arrests of Ambedkarites were part of what Pradhan described as a targeted “combing operation” in Dalit and Buddhist-majority settlements. Such operations typically involve searching areas for individuals accused of cognisable offences, but in this case, the execution was brutal and indiscriminate. Pradhan and other activists recounted chilling accounts of police brutality during these raids, with men, women, and even children reportedly beaten savagely.

The horrors inflicted on these communities are deeply disturbing. Women were not spared, with male police officers allegedly assaulting them in particularly degrading and inhumane ways. Pradhan narrated the ordeal of a woman who had delivered a baby just a month prior—she was reportedly beaten without mercy. In another instance, police officers allegedly grabbed a woman by her hair, stood on her thighs, and struck her with sticks. Independent journalist Sharmistha Bhosale, who has been documenting the aftermath, shared harrowing images of the victims, corroborating these allegations of police excesses.

Rahul Pradhan’s accounts lay bare a grim reality: these raids were not about maintaining law and order but appeared to target Dalit and Buddhist communities in a manner that suggests systemic bias and state complicity. The violence unleashed by the police has left these communities traumatised, with many continuing to demand accountability and justice for the atrocities they endured. Suryawanshi’s death and the events that followed stand as a stark reminder of the deep-seated inequalities and institutional failures that plague the justice system in India. The outrage and protests sweeping Maharashtra are not just calls for justice for one man but a cry against the entrenched caste-based oppression and unchecked state violence that has gone on for far too long.

Sharmistha Bhosale, an independent journalist, also reporting from Parbhani, also shared her perspective with SabrangIndia, expressing deep anguish over the brutality inflicted upon the Dalit community, particularly women. “The way these people, especially the women, have been brutalised is beyond imagination. The targeted individuals are daily wage workers. Male police officers have, with impunity, used excessive force against Ambedkarites. Would male police inflict such gendered violence on women, even older women without the impunity born of political protection,” she asked. Sharmistha Bhosale shared exclusive photographs from Parbhani with Sabrangindia.

Advocate and activist Rahul Pradhan raised serious questions about the conduct of the police and their one-sided investigation into the Parbhani incident. According to Pradhan, the authorities are deliberately diverting attention away from the desecration of the Constitution, which initially triggered the protests. “Why have the police not checked the CCTV footage from the area where the desecration occurred? Did the perpetrator drop from heaven? Why is there no investigation against him?” he asked, pointing to glaring omissions in the police’s approach.

Pradhan also criticised the government for its inaction against the police officers involved. He argued that the absence of suspensions, transfers, or any punitive measures suggests tacit state support for the excessive use of force. “Even after the death of one Dalit man in custody and allegations of mass brutalisation, the government has taken no action against the police. If the state were not backing the excessive use of force against the marginalised, why would it stay quiet till now?” Pradhan remarked.

Pradhan, along with other activists, has demanded an independent judicial investigation into the entire series of events in Parbhani, beginning with the desecration of the Constitution and its underlying causes. He attributed the act of desecration to a climate of hate speeches prevalent in the area. Additionally, he called for the registration of an FIR against the erring police officers, including charges of custodial torture and murder in the case of Somnath Suryawanshi.

The demands for justice—ranging from a transparent investigation to accountability for the police—highlight the systemic flaws in how marginalised communities are treated by law enforcement and the state. The Parbhani incident is not merely a local tragedy but a reflection of a larger pattern of oppression and impunity that continues to plague India’s justice system.

“They took my son’s life” says deceased Somnath Suryawanshi’s mother

Under the scorching December sun in Parbhani, Vijaya Venkat Suryavanshi mourned the death of her eldest son, Somnath Suryavanshi, a 35-year-old law student from the marginalised Vadar community. Speaking to BBC Marathi, Vijaya recounted the heartbreak of losing her son while he was in judicial custody. “They deliberately took my son away. They beat him up and took his life. Then they called me to tell me he was gone,” she said, holding back tears. Somnath had travelled to Parbhani to take an exam but was arrested by the police in connection with the violence that erupted in the city on December 11. The police claim Somnath died of a heart attack, but the family strongly disputes this, pointing to the autopsy report that lists “shock following multiple injuries” as the cause of death.

The violence began after the desecration of a copy of the Indian Constitution placed near a statue of Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar. Protests led by Ambedkarite groups culminated in a citywide bandh that escalated into stone-pelting and arson. Somnath, according to his family, had no involvement in the unrest but was arrested on December 11. He was held in police custody for two days before being transferred to judicial custody. By December 15, he was dead. The Suryavanshi family alleges that Somnath was subjected to severe custodial torture, with his brother Premnath detailing how the police “stripped him and beat him for days, trying to keep him alive with medical treatment until he succumbed.”

BBC Marathi’s on-ground reporting revealed accounts from Bhimnagar residents, who described widespread police brutality in the aftermath of the violence. Sudhakar Jadhav, a kidney patient recovering at home, claimed the police forcibly entered his house, dragged him and his son outside, and beat them ruthlessly. “They beat my son so much that his skin peeled off. The marks of their sticks are still visible on his back and thighs,” he said. Women in the area also alleged that they were assaulted, with one blind woman recounting how her son was beaten on his back and head. Activists from the Ambedkar movement accused the police of conducting targeted combing operations in Ambedkarite and Buddhist settlements, indiscriminately attacking residents, including women and children.

Rahul Pradhan asserted that the police “created terror” in these settlements under the guise of maintaining order. Vijay Wakode, another activist, accused the police of orchestrating Somnath’s death, alleging, “They beat him for two days in police custody and continued the assault in judicial custody.” Wakode himself passed away from a heart attack on December 16, adding another layer of tragedy to the unfolding events. Notably, Wakode had also been booked for rioting by the police.

Despite the mounting allegations, Special Inspector General Shahaji Umap dismissed claims of combing operations or misconduct. In a statement to BBC Marathi, Umap maintained that only individuals involved in the December 11 violence were detained and denied reports of police raids in residential areas. On Somnath’s death, Umap refrained from making further comments, suggesting that the medical report would provide definitive answers. There is however no response on the violence inflicted and injuries suffered by victims, evident from not just the post-morten but strong eye-witness accounts.

The Suryavanshi family and the residents of Bhimnagar continue to demand justice, accusing the police of unchecked brutality and systemic targeting of marginalised communities. This case has reignited concerns over custodial violence in India, with activists calling for accountability and reform to address the institutional impunity that enables such incidents. BBC Marathi’s detailed coverage sheds light on the devastating consequences of this alleged abuse of power, offering a grim reminder of the cost of silence and inaction.

Parbhani: Custodial death of a Dalit man

The unrest in Parbhani began on December 10 when a replica of the Indian Constitution placed near a statue of Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar was vandalised. The desecration led to widespread protests by Dalit organisations, culminating in violence and clashes with the police on December 11. Incidents of stone-pelting and arson were reported, prompting the police to arrest several individuals. Among those arrested was 35-year-old Dalit law student Somnath Suryawanshi, who had reportedly returned to Parbhani to appear for an exam.

Somnath was taken into police custody on December 12 and subsequently transferred to judicial custody after having spent two days in police custody. On December 15, he complaint of chest pain, and when taken to the hospital was declared dead, with an interim postmortem report stating that the cause of death was “shock following multiple injuries.” His family alleged that he was subjected to severe custodial torture, with his brother, Premnath Suryawanshi, stating, “Somnath had nothing to do with the protests. He was beaten for days until he succumbed to his injuries.” Activists have accused the police of targeting Dalit settlements in the aftermath of the protests against the desecration of the Constitution, claiming that innocent people, including women and children, were subjected to violence during combing operations.

Detailed report on the same may be read here.

Beed: Murder of a Maratha sarpanch raises caste tensions

In Massejeog village of Beed district, the kidnapping and murder of Maratha sarpanch Santosh Deshmukh on December 9 has also caused significant unrest. Deshmukh, known for his leadership in the Maratha community, was allegedly killed in a caste-related dispute. The prime accused, Vishnu Chate, belongs to the OBC-Vanjari community, which has historically been at odds with the Marathas over issues such as reservation and local dominance.

As per multiple reports, Deshmukh’s body was discovered on the highway, and initial reports suggested he was tortured before being killed. Opposition leaders criticised the delay in apprehending the main accused, with NCP MLA Sandeep Kshirsagar noting that despite an extortion case being filed, no murder charges had been officially registered. BJP MLA Namita Mundada from Kaij described Deshmukh as a respected community leader whose death had shocked the region.

Custodial Violence in Parbhani: Tragedy and allegations of police brutality

The custodial death of 35-year-old Dalit youth Somnath Suryawanshi in Parbhani and the kidnapping and murder of Maratha sarpanch Santosh Deshmukh in Beed have triggered widespread condemnation from various political parties, Dalit organisations, and social groups. Both incidents have exposed systemic governance failures and reignited debates on caste-based discrimination and police brutality in Maharashtra.

In Pune, the Matang Ekta Andolan and the Republican Party of India (RPI) organised protests in front of the district collector’s office. RPI leader Parshuram Wadekar called for an independent inquiry into the incidents and demanded stringent action against those found responsible. A Dalit organisation released a statement condemning police actions in Parbhani, claiming that the authorities conducted brutal search operations targeting Dalit youths and women after the protests. The statement read, “After Dalit youths agitated in Parbhani, the police conducted search operations and beat the youths and women. Action should be taken against those found guilty.”

Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) city president Prashant Jagtap announced agitations outside the Pune collector’s office, stating, “Both the Parbhani custodial death and Beed sarpanch murder reflect a breakdown of law and order. This government must be held accountable for failing to protect its citizens.”

Related:

No quality education without teaching equality, secularism, fraternity value: SC

Supreme Court issued stay on suits on survey against religious places, interventions had highlighted the Act’s intent to preserve India’s secular character

Fierce backlash grows against Yati Narsinghanand’s Dharam Sansad as fears of incitement to violence escalate; plea moved in SC

The post State-sanctioned brutality? Dalit communities targeted in Parbhani “combing operations”, women, children abused appeared first on SabrangIndia.