In multi-city crackdown, Police teams raid Maoist Sympathisers in connection with Bhima-Koregaon caste violence. Details here

Update at 4:31 PM- Delhi High Court stays detention of Gautam Navlakha for one day

Update at 4:18 PM- CPI(M) takes strong line against the crackdown, tweeting:

Update at 3:38 PM- Habeas Corpus plea asking for liberty for Gautam Navlakha came up before the Delhi High Court. High Court says no action should be taken regarding transferring Gautam Navlakha to Pune till then

Update at 3:16 PM- Transit remand granted for Gautam Navlakha to be taken to Pune

Update at 3:16 PM- Arun Ferriera detained 

Update at 3:00 PM- Amnesty India issues a statement regarding the crackdown

Update at 3:00 PM- Advocate Prashant Bhushan tweets regarding the crackdown:

Update at 2:28 PM - Detained persons to first be produced in court for transit remand in order to be taken to Pune. 

Update at 2:19 PM - Gautam Navlakha detained following raids at his residence in New Delhi

Update at 2:13 PM - Varavara Rao detained in Hyderabad

Update at 1:36 PM - The Pune CP is expected to brief the media on the raids at 5 PM

Update at 1:26 PM - As per the Pune Police: 'Search operation is on in 3-4 locations. After collecting evidence we will take a call on whether anyone will be arrested. Offences registered on the basis of the Bhima Koregaon incident. Raids are being conducted under the UAPA (Unlawful Activities Prevention Act) 

---

In what is believed to be part of a multi-city crackdown on Maoist sympathisers, the Pune police on Wednesday conducted a raid at the Hyderabad residence of Varavara Rao, allegedly in connection with a meeting organised days before the caste-related violence that had erupted at Bhima Koregaon near Pune and spread to Mumbai, at the start of the year. 

According to the Hyderabad Police Task Force which is assisting the Pune Police raids have also been conducted at the residences of other persons in the city. The Maharashtra Police has also raided a residence in Ranchi from which several items, such as computers, CDs, papers and books have been confiscated. Raided persons are also being quizzed. 

As per inputs, raids are being carried out on, or at properties belonging to, up to nine persons, across Hyderabad, Delhi, Haryana, Mumbai, Goa and Ranchi. Confirming the development, Shivaji Bodkhe, Joint Commissioner of Police (Law and Order) Pune said,"Simultaneous searches are being conducted at several locations across Hyderabad, Delhi, Haryana, Mumbai, and Ranchi in connection with Elgar Parishad"

The raids are said to be an outcome of the Pune Police arresting five persons in connection with the Bhima Koregaon violence in June, and the information ascertained from them. Following the arrest of Rona Wilson from Pune, a letter had been accessed from his computer where a devious plot to assassinate the Prime Minister had been detailed.   

The assassination plot letter had proposed "concrete steps to end Modi-raj", including:

• The mention of "Rs 8 crore for annual supply of M4s with 4 lakh rounds"
• Stating: "We are working to consolidate ties with like-minded organisations, political parties, representatives of minorities across the country"
• The mention of a proposal of "concrete steps to end Modi-raj" along the lines of "another Rajiv Gandhi type incident". Former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi had been assassinated on May 21, 1991, by suicide bombing in Sriperumbudur near Chennai. "It sounds suicidal", the letter says about the proposal.
• The statement: "Targeting his (PM Modi's) road shows could be an effective strategy" the letter states. 

Here is the letter: 

In January 2018, The Elgaar Parishad rally that was held to commemorate the 200th anniversary of the battle of Bhima Koregaon had witnessed violence being sparked, following which, on the subsequent days, Mumbai was hit by destructive and debilitating caste-clashes and protests.