Bhima-Koregaon rotesters attacked buses, stopped suburban trains and blocked roads at various places in Mumbai as normal life was hit in the city and other parts of Maharashtra, during a bandh called against violence on the anniversary of a battle fought 200 years ago.

The bandh was called off later in the day.

Protesters jumped on rail tracks of harbour line at Govandi, Mankhurd and Kurla, due to which suburban services towards Panvel, Belapur and Vashi were stopped for a few hours, the official said.

Thirteen buses of the civic transport service ‘BEST’ were damaged by protesters in Kalanagar area (Bandra), Dharavi, Kamraj Nagar, Santosh Nagar, Dindoshi and Hanuman Nagar, a Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation official said.

Mumbai’s famed tiffin carriers, the Dabbawalas, suspended services.

Bharipa Bahujan Mahasangh leader and BR Ambedkar’s grandson Prakash Ambedkar had called for the bandh to protest against the State government’s “failure” to stop the violence at Bhima Koregaon village in Pune district two days ago. Later, announcing the withdrawal of the bandh, he alleged that right-wing leaders Sambhaji Bhide and Milind Ekbote were behind the Pune violence and demanded that they be arrested and made to face the same legal process as Mumbai blasts accused Yakub Memon.

“Nearly 50 per cent of the State’s population took part in the shut-down,” Ambedkar told reporters. Except for a couple of incidents, the bandh was largely peaceful, he added.

However, the situation on roads for the better part of the day belied Ambedkar’s claim as incidents road blockades, arson and stone-pelting were reported in Mumbai and elsewhere during the day.

While the State government said it hadn’t declared a school-holiday, bus operators refused to ply their vehicles in Mumbai.

“The entire trading community came to a halt on Wednesday in the State. Many businesses stayed shut as a precautionary measure. About 70 per cent of retail trade in Mumbai city was affected because of the bandh and stone pelting and vandalism has caused damage to property. As of now, I can’t give an estimate on the extent of loss and damage but it is significant,” Mohan Gurnani, President, Federation of Associations of Maharashtra, told BusinessLine.

Mumbai police registered nine cases on Wednesday in connection with Tuesday’s violent protests. Over 150 people have been detained, police said.

Protests also took place in Navi Mumbai, Thane, Aurangabad, Pune, Nanded, Parbhani, Washim, Akola, Sindhudurg, Raigad, Kolhapur, where incidents of road blocks, vandalising and stone pelting were reported, police said.

Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said those responsible for the caste violence in Pune will face action and the matter will be taken to its logical end.

Related Topics
comment COMMENT NOW