The custodial death of Somnath Vyankat Suryawanshi, a 35-year-old law student and anti-caste activist, in Parbhani district jail serves as a grim reminder of the potential for violence and unrest in Maharashtra. Suryawanshi, who had been detained alongside over 50 Dalit Bahujan youths for their alleged involvement in a recent outbreak of violence, died just hours after being sent to judicial custody. The circumstances surrounding his death, particularly the fact that he had been granted bail but died in police custody nonetheless, have sent shockwaves through the state. His tragic demise follows an already tense episode in Parbhani earlier this week when the desecration of a replica of the Constitution triggered violence.
What makes this event even more concerning is that it takes place days before the upcoming celebrations of the historic 1818 battle of Bhima-Koregaon (in Pune district) – an incident viewed as a symbol of Dalit pride. The Parbhani case echoes the tensions of the Bhima-Koregaon riots that erupted in late December 2017 and January 2018 - a period marked by violent clashes and the deepening divide between communities.
At the time, too, Fadnavis was CM. The Bhima-Koregaon riots, which started as a skirmish between Dalit and Maratha groups, quickly escalated into a statewide crisis, exacerbating long-standing tensions between the communities and drawing in national attention. The rioting led to massive damage to property and a hardening of identities in the state, while the state’s handling of the aftermath, including the alleged targeting of activists and intellectuals, raised uncomfortable questions about the state’s response to caste-based unrest.
Now, as he returns to the helm, the lesson for the CM from Bhima-Koregaon is clear: the authorities must be proactive in managing the tensions that frequently flare up around caste-based violence and protests. It is crucial that Chief Minister Fadnavis, who has returned to power in Maharashtra, takes swift action to prevent a repeat of the events of Bhima-Koregaon and ensure that the Parbhani tragedy does not spiral into widespread statewide unrest and spillover to other districts.
Suryawanshi’s death has already sparked protests and outrage, particularly from the Dalit community, who view his demise as another example of systemic police brutality. While the political situation in Maharashtra is far more fluid than in 2018, underlying fault lines remain. The Parbhani violence risks further inflaming tensions between Dalit and upper-caste communities, particularly as caste-based politics continues to shape the discourse in the state.
The Chief Minister must act decisively to ensure that neither the state’s institutions nor political rabble-rousers aggravate the violence. This begins with a full, throrough and transparent inquiry into Suryawanshi’s death.
A takeaway of Bhima-Koregaon is that violence can quickly spread if it is allowed to fester without intervention. A repeat of the 2018 riots must be avoided at all costs. Fadnavis must rise to the occasion, showing that Maharashtra is capable of managing its deep-seated social divisions without allowing them to boil over into violent confrontations.
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