The city of Akola in Maharashtra witnessed a distressing wave of communal violence that shook its foundations in the past week. Regrettably, amidst the aftermath, some voices sought to exploit the tragedy for their own divisive narratives, unfairly pointing fingers at the Hindu community. On May 15, 2023, The Wire published an article shedding light on the unfortunate communal violence that engulfed Akola, Maharashtra. The report unraveled a tragic incident wherein Vilas Gaikwad, a 40-year-old man from the Dalit community, lost his life in a merciless attack. According to the report, Eyewitnesses revealed that Gaikwad, an auto-rickshaw driver, desperately pleaded with the mob, repeatedly emphasizing that he did not belong to the Muslim community. However, Vilas Gaikwad’s appeals fell on deaf ears and they mistook his identity as his auto-rickshaw bore the inscription “KGN,” symbolizing his reverence for Khawaja Gharib Nawaz.
Another news portal The Mooknayak also published a report regarding the Akola incident on May 18, 2023. According to this report, Vilas Gaikwad, a 40-year-old Dalit electrician, who was simply on his way home from work, became an innocent victim caught in the crossfire of clashes and stone pelting between the warring factions. The report specifically mentioned that according to police, Vilas died due to a serious head injury in the stone pelting between the two sides.
A Twitter handle named Why So Serious quoted The Wire report and wrote, They murdered a Dalit thinking he is a Muslim.
Apart from this another Twitter handle named Ex Bhakt also quoted The Wire report and made similar claims.
So, to establish the truth surrounding the tragic incident in Akola, Maharashtra, it is essential to address key questions regarding Vilas Gaikwad’s occupation, the responsible party for his death, and the circumstances leading to his demise. Was Gaikwad an auto-rickshaw driver as some reports suggest? Was his death caused by Hindus, or is the reality different? Did Gaikwad die due to stone pelting between the two communities, or is there another explanation? These uncertainties highlight the importance of conducting a thorough investigation, relying on verified information and credible sources, to uncover the accurate facts behind this unfortunate incident. Let’s Fact Check.
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Fact Check
During our investigation into the tragic incident in Akola, Maharashtra, we turned to social media for potential leads, conducting keyword research on Twitter. One crucial discovery emerged in the form of a video posted by Times Now on May 14, 2023. At the 1 minute and 46-second mark of the footage, a compelling eyewitness account unfolded, shedding light on the unsettling events. According to the witness, a vast multitude of Muslim boys proceeded from a certain location, but on their way back, chaos ensued. They began thrashing vehicles, pelting stones not only at temples but also at houses, causing widespread destruction. The eyewitness further revealed that a person was targeted and subjected to brutal assault, resulting in severe injuries.
The video continued, capturing another eyewitness account at the 2-minute and 2-second mark, reinforcing the claims made earlier. This witness confirmed that a group of individuals launched a stone pelting attack specifically targeting the temple in the vicinity.
Continuing our investigation, we expanded our keyword research to include the query “Vilas Gaikwad’s death in Akola” on Google, leading us to a significant report published by The Indian Express. According to this source, Vilas Gaikwad, a 39-year-old electrician, tragically met his fate while returning home on a fateful Saturday night, amidst the turmoil that unfolded in Akola. The report unveils a heartbreaking reality, stating that Gaikwad fell victim to a barrage of stones and a brutal pipe attack, ultimately claiming his life during the violent episode.
The report further reveals that Gaikwad had been serving as an electrician in Akola for over two decades, diligently providing for his loved ones and striving to secure their future.
After this, we found another report published by Maharashtra Times on May 17, 2023. According to this report also, Vilas Gaikwad was an electrician and only breadwinner for his family.
In our quest for further details, we turned to the official Twitter handle of the Akola Police, which provided valuable insights through a tweet posted on May 20, 2023. The tweet contained a press note shared by the Akola Police, shedding light on the events that transpired on May 13, 2023. According to this official statement, the incident unfolded when a complaint was filed by Muslims against an individual who had posted an offensive message on social media, targeting a Muslim deity. The police registered a case under various sections of the Indian Penal Code, including 153 (A), 295 (A), 188, 120 (A), and 505, at the Ramdas Peth Police Station in Akola.
However, the press note continued, revealing a more intricate sequence of events. On the night of May 13, 2023, illegal gangs gathered and conspired to incite violence. They resorted to throwing nets and stones in various areas, including the old city area, Harihar Peth, and Pola Chowk. In a disturbing turn of events, they invaded the houses of the Hindu community, causing damage to government and public property. Armed with iron pipes and sticks, they brutally beat both civilians and police officers, resulting in the tragic demise of Vilas Gaikwad from the Harihar Peth area.
Additionally, the police report highlighted an important aspect regarding the origin of the incident. It stated that an argument had taken place between the complainant and the accused during an online chat. This debate escalated, leading to the exchange of obscene and objectionable words. However, after the conversation had ended, the complainant selectively extracted controversial segments from the chat and disseminated them to fanatics within the Muslim community through various social media platforms, ultimately inciting the riots.
The press note further revealed that a significant number of arrests had been made in connection with the crime. Forty-four individuals were apprehended for their involvement, with a total of 148 suspects arrested for their roles in causing the riots.
Further clarity regarding the incident was obtained from a report by TV9 Bharatvarsh, published on May 20, 2023. The report unveils crucial details, including the arrest of two individuals connected to the violence. The mastermind behind the entire incident was identified as Arbaaz Khan, approximately 23 years old, while the other individual was named Sameer Sonawane.
According to the report, SP Sandeep Ghuge explained that the violence stemmed from a controversial Instagram chat. The situation escalated when the chat went viral, inciting widespread unrest throughout the city. Arbaaz Khan initiated the contentious conversation, which was later amplified by a crowd that gathered at the police station after the chat gained traction. The mob then instigated further violence in different parts of the city.
The police investigation revealed that Sameer Sonawane had created an Instagram page related to the film “The Kerala Story,” and Arbaaz engaged in a chat with him. During their conversation, an argument ensued, escalating to obscene and objectionable remarks. After the chat concluded, Arbaaz selectively extracted controversial portions and shared them on social media platforms, targeting the Muslim community and their religion. The edited viral chat portrayed objectionable statements, inciting hundreds of people to gather and file complaints at the police station.
However, Arbaaz had different intentions. He manipulated those who came to the police station and provoked them, fueling their anger. Subsequently, different groups dispersed throughout the city, gathering at various locations and perpetrating acts of violence.
These revelations provide crucial insights into the chain of events, exposing the manipulation and deliberate efforts to incite violence by Arbaaz Khan which later became the reason for Vilas Gaikwad’s tragic death.
Thus, in light of the gathered evidence and official statements, a clearer picture emerges regarding Vilas Gaikwad’s identity and the circumstances surrounding his tragic demise. Contrary to earlier claims, it is evident that Gaikwad was not an auto-rickshaw driver but rather an electrician, diligently working to provide for his family as their sole breadwinner. The notion that Hindus were responsible for his death also falls apart as the investigation reveals a different reality. Gaikwad fell victim to a violent attack orchestrated by a Muslim mob, according to the press note shared by the Akola Police. Hence the claims made by The Wire regarding Vilas Gaikwad’s profession and reason of death are false and misleading.
| Claim | Vilas Gaikwad was an auto rickshaw driver and was killed by Hindu mob |
| Claimed by | The Wire etc |
| Fact Check | False and Misleading |
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