Maharashtra bandh: Dalit groups are protesting in parts of the state, shops vandalised
Mumbai/Delhi: Mumbai is tense today amid a massive bandh or strike called by Dalit groups and parties across Maharashtra as the state marked its third day of seething tension between Dalits and upper castes, mainly Marathas. Supporters, allegedly of Dalit parties, have tried to block trains, metro and buses in and around Mumbai and have attacked a car showroom in suburb Vikroli. Two major roads in Mumbai's Bandra have been blocked by protesters, who have forced shops to close and are not allowing vehicles through. Coupled with route diversions by the police, it has caused massive traffic jams in the city. There have been protests in Delhi too.
- Local trains have been blocked at Ghatkopar, causing delays on the Central Harbour lies. 13 buses of the civic transport service 'BEST' were damaged by protesters.
- Protests are also being held in Nagpur, Pune and Baramati and arson was reported from several areas. There is a total shutdown in Baramati, a town near Pune, and Sangli and Miraj, two towns in south Maharashtra. In Nagpur, most schools and markets remained shut and bus services were disrupted as protests were held in sensitive parts of the town.
- In Delhi, students are protesting outside the Maharashtra Sadan in the heart of the national capital.
- The Maharashtra bandh today has been called by Prakash Ambedkar, the grandson of Dalit icon BR Ambedkar. Mumbai is being guarded by nearly 21,000 security personnel of the state government.
- Offices are open in Mumbai, as are schools though school bus operators did not ply buses in the morning as a precautionary measure. Airlines said they will not charge passengers who do not show up for flights.
- The tension began on Monday when lakhs of Dalits gathered in the village of Bhima-Koregaon, about 30 km from Pune, to celebrate the 200th anniversary of a battle that saw Dalit soldiers fighting with the British, defeating the army of the upper caste Peshwas or rulers.
- The clashes erupted during the commemoration by Dalit groups of the battle of Bhima-Koregaon. As an argument between some assembled Dalits and right-wing groups spun out of control, a 28-year-old Maratha was killed.
- Right-wing groups question why a British victory against Marathas should be celebrated and accuse Jignesh Mewani, Dalit leader from Gujarat who was just elected to public office, and Umar Khalid of Delhi's Jawaharlal Nehru University or JNU, of inciting caste tension.
- Appealing for calm, Jignesh Mewani tweeted, "Maharashtra government must ensure rule of law. I appeal to the people of Maharashtra to maintain peace."
- Yesterday, 100 people were detained in Mumbai, the police said. Most of them were Dalit protesters. Today, Thane, a major suburb of Mumbai, saw the imposition of prohibitory orders that banned large gatherings. Slogan-shouting Dalit activists attempted a rail-blockade, but were foiled by security forces.
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