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Sunburn festival targeted for terror attack by far-right group say police

Asia’s largest electronic music festival was the target for Hindu extremists according to anti-terror officials

A group of men linked to far-right extremists in India targeted electronic music festival Sunburn last year, in Pune, near the west coast of India, according to local police.

The plot was alleged in a court case that two men, linked to far-right Hindu group Sanatan Sanstha, planned to attack what is Asia’s largest music festival because it was “against Hindu culture”. 

The Maharashtra Anti-Terrorism Squad made the claim against Sudhanva Godnhalekar and Vaibhav Raut, part of a group of five men charged with a number of terrorism charges.

Sunburn is a huge EDM gathering over four days that has seen Carl Cox, Pete Tong and Armin van Buuren play. The event had been held in Goa until 2015, after which it moved to Pune.

Police allege that the group of five were also involved in petrol bombing cinema halls screening films deemed offensive, and planned to attack particular journalists and authors.

The festival happens again in Pune in December 2018, though was under threat from being shut down by local government for “maligning the state’s image” last year.