Maharashtra

Shops across the city voluntarily shut as protesters,including women, picketed areas such as Powai, Dadar, Chembur, Bandra East, Ghatkopar etc. Police were out in large numbers on roads and at stations but said they had been asked to not take action unless the protesters indulged in violence. “We have directed the police to not resort to lathi charge or any aggressive steps until the protests are held in peaceful manner. The protestors too have restrained from violent steps,” said an officer from home department.

Brihanmumbai Electric Supply and Transport undertaking (BEST) buses were vandalised and stone pelting was reported from some locations city. Mumbai Metro services were affected too in the morning due to the protests and services between Airport and Ghatkopar were temporarily shut.

Major arterial roads such as the Western and Eastern Express highways, Jogeshwari-Vikhroli Link Road, SV Road, LBS Marg were also blocked by protestors at various locations. Section 144 was imposed in Thane. Hundreds of protesters took out a bike rally in Thane. Two state-owned buses and an auto-rickshaw were vandalised, leading to injuries to four people.

The bandh evoked a mix response in Pune and Pimpri Chinchwad. While shops and other commercial establishments were open, some schools were shut. There were two incidents of stone pelting in the morning.

Nagpur and other parts of the Vidarbha region on Tuesday witnessed road blockades and vandalism against the violence at event marking the 200th anniversary of the Bhima-Koregaon battle in Pune.

Shops were closed at chief minister Devendra Fadnavis’ Mul village in Chandrapur district after several Dalit organisations protested against the violence in which one person was killed. Miscreants damaged a couple of state-run buses.

The Vidarbha region, including Nagpur, saw some incidents of stone pelting and damage to property. A large number of protesters blocked the busy Jabalpur-Hyderabad highway and blocked interstate bus services.