The Maharashtra Department of the Interior has granted a final extension to the Bhima Koregaon Commission to complete its task and submit a report by December 31st. It is the seventh extension granted to the two-member commission investigating on January 1, 2018, the caste clashes in Bhima Koregaon near Pune. The previous extension ended on April 8 amid the Covid-19 lockdown across the country.
“Through this government order, the commission received the seventh and last extension until December 31, 2020. The commission must present its report within the extended period,” said an order issued by VM Bhat, undersecretary of the Department of the Interior. .
Also read: Activist Sudha Bharadwaj seeks bail for medical reasons, SC reports this
The commission’s registrar, VV Palnitkar, said that in light of Covid-19, the commission and its staff are likely to face some issues, especially regarding conducting hearings. “It has become difficult for defenders and witnesses to attend the hearing due to fear of infection. Staff are also concerned about the high risk of the virus and have expressed their fears. “
Palnitkar said the commission does not want them to come to the office in such a situation and, furthermore, they are not government employees. “Previously, we had to postpone hearings during Covid-19 and now the situation has gotten even worse. We are finding it very difficult to hold hearings. “
The Maharashtra government set up the commission to investigate the Bhima-Koregaon violence, which took place during an event held to commemorate the 200th anniversary of the Bhima-Koregaon battle in Pune district.
.
