The Nagpur police on Monday morning arrested Republican Party of India leader and MP Ramdas Athawale on his arrival at the airport.

The police said Athawale was among five Dalit leaders, who along with Communist Party of India-Marxist politburo member Brinda Karat, were banned from entering the city to participate in a rally to protest the Khairlanji Dalit killings.

Dalit leaders, including Prakash Ambedkar, Jogendra Kawade, Sulekha Kumbhare and Rajendra Gavai were scheduled to take part in the protest rally.

However, as the police denied permission to Dalit organisations for the rally in view of the commencement of the winter session of Maharashtra Assembly and the recent incidents of violence in parts of the state, the Dalit outfits are likely to organise a peace meeting.

Meanwhile, the police also appealed to people not to assemble at Deekshabhoomi, where the late Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar had embraced Buddhism in 1956.