Rama Athavale and her family was residing at Sanaswadi, Pune, Maharashtra for more than 20 years. Their house, fabrication workshop and small grocery shop all was burnt down by castiest people led by right wing organisation on 1st January 2018. In the castiest attack at Bhima Koregaon the family ran for life in this horrific attack. Case was later filed by Rama Athavale attracting various sections of Schedule Castes and Scheduled Tribes Prevention of Atrocities Act and Indian Penal Code. Final report of police Investigation was filed in court in the latter half of 2019 by Investigation Officer from Daund Subdivisional Police Office.
On 1st January 2018, Buddhist were gathering in huge number to visit the historical monument (obelisk) at “Bhima-Koregaon” in Maharashtra, India, which is very close to our house (marley 1.5 km away). Every year Athavale Family was making arrangements for activists coming from different parts of India. They provide people with space to rest, get fresh and also arrange for their breakfast.
In year 2018 they did the same. They distributed the breakfast and then with local members of self-help group and other members of Panchasheel Bahu Uddeshiy Trust, their own social organisation started moving towards obelisk to pay homage at around 11.30 and they realised that people who came their to pay tribute were facing brutal attack by castist people. Upper caste people were stone pelting the masses gathered at the place. It was shocking for the whole community. Athavale family and the group with them came back half a way to discuss about what is happening. They were sitting in the house when mob of around 500 upper caste men started marching towards their house with slogans. They were abusing the family and the community. As they started coming close to the house, the family and others who gathered their started running from the back door. From a distance the family saw them breaking in the house. In short while their house was in flames. Ms. Rama Athavale, her 18 year old son started running to other village to save ourselves while her husband waited there for a while. In short time he also started running for his life as some villagers saw him. But was caught by perpetrators and was brutally attacked. Somehow, he saved himself and reached to his brother’s house where other family members were hiding.
The case was registered with Shikrapur Police station almost a week later.
