Parbhani violence: Ambedkarite activists march to Mumbai, demand justice for Somnath

Long march seeks justice for Somnath Suryawanshi, demanding fast-track trials for police officials involved in his death.

A long march has been organised from Maharashtra’s Parbhani district, seeking justice for Somnath Suryawanshi, who died in judicial custody days after violence erupted in the city of Parbhani over the alleged desecration of a replica of the Indian Constitution. On Wednesday (January 22, 2025), the rally reached Watur village in Partur Taluka in the State’s Jalna District, with hundreds of people joining them to reach Mumbai.

After Jalna, the rally will move towards Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar district. The long march, kicked off on January 17, will end in Mumbai on February 18, after meeting Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, an organiser said.

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Somnath died in judicial custody after being arrested for participating in a protest against the desecration of the replica of the Indian Constitution that took place on December 10, following which violence broke out in Parbhani on December 11. Somnath, an aspiring lawyer and Pune resident had come to Parbhani to appear for law exams.

“Every day, thousands of people are walking and joining the rally, seeking fast-track court trials on police officials who allegedly assaulted Somnath Suryawanshi in custody, leading to his death. We are going to appeal, demanding polygraph tests for accused Datta Sopan Pawar, fast-track trials in Santosh Deshmukh’s death, and withdrawal of false cases against the protesters,” Bhimrao Hattiambire, Ambedkarite leader from Parbhani, told The Hindu.

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Other demands by the protesters include the seizure of CCTV footage from Parbhani Police Station; investigation into the organisers of the Sakal Hindu Samaj Morcha; construction of a memorial for Suryawanshi; and compensation and government jobs for the families of Suryawanshi and Vijay Wakode, an Ambedkarite leader who died of cardiac arrest after the incident.