Protests across Mumbai; Pune highway blocked
Violent protests by Marathas broke out in Mumbai and its adjoining areas during a bandh on Wednesday over demands for reservation. The agitators broke vehicles, blocked highways and even stopped trains, disrupting normal life in the city. The Mumbai bandh organisers, who had planned a peaceful protest, had to call it off around 2 pm after several violent incidents.
There were clashes between protesters and police at Kalamboli where the Mumbai- Pune highway was blocked. Protesters targeted police with stone pelting and the police had to resort to firing in the air. Thane also witnessed violent protests and rail rokos. Incidents of stone pelting took place in Navi Mumbai, Kalyan, Dombivali. Thane and Palghar districts saw a complete shutdown of markets. Around evening, the situation returned to normal.
There were several incidents of rasta roko, stone pelting, tyre burning and vandalisation of public transport. People were forced to shut shops in Nalasopara, Ghatkopar, Chembur and other areas. Agitators at Tulinj Road, Nalasopara, beat up shopkeepers. Shops were forced to shut at Nalasopara, Lalbaug, Dadar, Matunga and Parel area.
Posters of CM Devendra Fadnavis were torn in parts of Thane. Southbound traffic on the Western Express Highway was blocked. The bandh was called off by Wednesday afternoon.
Meanwhile, Thane commissioner of police Parambir Singh claimed that they have detained 20 protesters, who seemed to be ‘ up to mischief ’. “We have registered offences and so far detained 20 persons. We have also identified some more persons who were involved in mischievous acts,” Mr Shingh said.