Maharashtra bandh LIVE: Protesters block Mumbai's Eastern Expressway; 700 inter-state buses cancelled

Auto Refresh Feeds
Maharashtra bandh LIVE: Protesters block Mumbai's Eastern Expressway; 700 inter-state buses cancelled
  • 11:50 (IST)

    Shops forcibly being shut down in NM Joshi Marg

  • 11:45 (IST)

    Situation in Goregaon, Mumbai

    Commuters in a BEST bus stopped in front of Inorbit mall in Goregaon. Protestors are forcing commuters out.

    Nivedita Niranjankumar/101reporters

  • 11:43 (IST)

    Protests intensify in Nagpur

  • 11:42 (IST)

    Metro services affected

    Metro services stopped between Asalfa and Ghatkopar Metro station by protestors, says disaster control room.

    Nivedita Niranjankumar/101reporters

  • 11:39 (IST)

    Rasta roko at Ghatkopar

  • 11:38 (IST)

    10.30 am: Situation in Elphinstone Road 

    Video by Jay Shah

  • 11:32 (IST)

    Protesters sit on road since 10 am

  • 11:24 (IST)

    Maharashtra bandh affects exams 

    In view of the state-wide bandh, the Maharashtra State examination council, Pune, has cancelled the computer typing examination which was to be held today. The same will now be held on Sunday. 

    Nivedita Niranjankumar/101Reporters

  • 11:23 (IST)

    10.30 am: Dalit lawyers from Aurangabad bench of the Mumbai high court wear black ribbons in support of Maharashtra bandh

    Aarteeshymal Joshi/101Reporters

  • 11:20 (IST)

    Ramdas Athawale appeals to protesters

    "I appeal to everyone to maintain peace. As for someone like Jignesh Mevani, he has no role in all of this," says Ramdas Athawale. 

  • 11:18 (IST)

    Eastern Expressway blocked in Ghatkopar

    The Eastern Expressway has been blocked by hundreds of activists at Ghatkopar, reports CNN-News18. 

  • 11:14 (IST)

    Disturbances in Mumbai

    According to CNN-News18, protesters have forced people travelling from buses in Ghatkopar and Goregaon to get down. According to the report, protesters are stopping buses and allowing only empty buses to go ahead. In addition, the Barkat Ali Road in Wadala too has been closed by the police. 

  • 11:03 (IST)

    Railway services resume on Western line

    Railway tracks  have been evacuated and train operations have resumed at Nallasopara/Virar from 10.30 am, says Western Railway. 

  • 11:00 (IST)

    Suburban services update of Central Railway  - 9.30 to 10.30 am

    The suburban train services on Central Railway,  Mumbai Division's Main line, Harbour and Transharbour line are running uninterrupted except for few minutes agitation at Diwa, Titwala and Vasind but the Railway staff, RPF and GRP officials cleared the path immediately and  train services resumed unhindered. Due to this agitation of 10 minutes, a couple of trains were delayed for 5-10 minutes.

    Sunil Udasi 
    CPRO CRLY

  • 10:59 (IST)

    Security tightened across Pune

  • 10:50 (IST)

    Bandh situation in Maharashtra

    The shutdown evoked greater response in mofussil areas compared to urban pockets of Thane, Nagpur, Pune and other cities, reported IANS. The coastal Konkan region reported a near-total shutdown, as also Dalit strongholds of Marathwada like Beed, Latur, Solapur, Jalgaon, Dhule, Ahmednagar, Nashik and Palghar.

  • 10:47 (IST)

    10.45 am: Protesters stop trains in Nalasopara 

    Inputs from Nivedita Niranjankumar/101Reporters

  • 10:43 (IST)

    Rail services affected on Western line as protesters occupy tracks at Nalasopara

  • 10:33 (IST)

    Inter-state buses between Maharashtra and Karnataka affected too

  • 10:24 (IST)

    BEST buses not running on this route: 


     Kandivali- Akurli, Dindoshi-Hanuman Nagar, Chandivali-Sangharsh Nagar, Khairani Rd- Sakinaka, Sahar Cargo, Mulund Check Naka, Jijamata Nagar. Fortunately, there has been no stone pelting incidents in Mumbai so far. 

    Input from Sanjay Sawant

  • 10:22 (IST)

    Pappu Yadav, too, gives adjournment motion in Lok Sabha

    ANI is reporting that Jan Adhikar Party (JAP) leader and Madhepura MP Pappu Yadav gives adjournment motion notice in Lok Sabha over the caste violence in Maharashtra.

  • 10:19 (IST)

    Now, CPI too issues adjournment motion 

    CPI leader D Raja gives zero hour notice in Rajya Sabha over "increasing atrocities against Dalits", reports ANI.

  • 10:15 (IST)

    After Naresh Agrawal, Congress issues adjournment motion in LS

  • 10:11 (IST)

    Internet services suspended in Aurangabad

  • 10:09 (IST)

    Life is as usual in most parts of Mumbai

    Some autos and taxis were seen plying in various areas, but the famed Dabbawalas cancelled their services for the day. Many shops and establishments also opened for work as usual in the city and suburbs and there were the familiar crowds on roads and highways, reported IANS.

  • 10:07 (IST)

    Naresh Agarwal issues adjournment motion on Bhima Koregaon violence

  • 10:05 (IST)

    Protesters gathering at Ramabai Nagar in Goregaon

  • 10:04 (IST)

    Visual from Kalyan's Nehru Chowk

    Image courtesy: Omkar Patne

  • 10:01 (IST)

    Parents frightned to send children, say schools

  • 09:59 (IST)

    Trains running normally in Pune division

  • 09:57 (IST)

    Bandh situation in Dadar

    While the fish market in Dadar is shut for the day, the flower market, however, is bustling as usual. 

  • 09:53 (IST)

    Mob pelts stones on bus at Aurangabad 

    A mob pelted stones towards a private bus which was on educational tour in Aurangabad district. Around 40 students from Gagangiri Vidyalaya, Pandharpur tehsil, Solapur district were on board. A teacher and a student are injured in the incident. The incident occurred around 7 am today near Deogiri school, Daultabad fort, 13 km from Aurangabad.

    Aarteeshymal Joshi/101Reporters

  • 09:49 (IST)

    Video: Trains are delayed at Borivali station

    Video courtesy: Hrushikesh Berde

  • 09:48 (IST)

    Many schools shut in Thane

  • 09:44 (IST)

    Western Railway affected too...

    Trains are running late by at least 30 minutes from Borivali, an important junction on the Western Railway. 

    Input from Jay Mehta

  • 09:43 (IST)

    Dalit activists protest in Thane's Teen Haath Naka

    Image procured by Sanjay Sawant

  • 09:41 (IST)

    Visual from Borivali station

    Image courtesy: Hrushikesh Berde

  • 09:34 (IST)

    Mumbai Police takes action

  • 09:30 (IST)

    WATCH: Protesters block rail service at Goregaon station

    Input from Tony George 

  • 09:26 (IST)

    CPM demonstration at Vasai in support of Maharashtra Bandh

    Image procured by Sanjay Sawant

  • 09:23 (IST)

    Visuals from Goregaon station 

    Image procured by Firstpost

  • 09:20 (IST)

    Rail roko ends in Virar

    Protesters tried to disrupt rail services in Virar at about 8.30 am. however, after a 10 minute disturbance, the police was able to re-start the train services from Virar. 

  • 09:16 (IST)

    Rajnath Singh to make a statement in Lok Sabha

    Home Minister Rajnath Singh will be making a statement on the ongoing caste violence in Maharashtra in the Lok Sabha on Wednesday, reports CNN-News18. 

  • 09:13 (IST)

    Mumbai Police message to citizens

    "Do not believe in or spread rumours and continue with the daily activities. The Police administration is there and geared up to deal with any untoward situations," says Mumbai Police. 

  • 09:07 (IST)

    Visuals from Pune  ST bus band: Pune-Baramati route also affect

    Image procured by Sanjay Sawant

  • 09:05 (IST)

    Dabbawalas off the roads today

  • 09:02 (IST)

    Dabbawalas will be off Mumbai roads today

    Dabbawala association spokesperson Subhash Talekar told mediapersons that they won't be delivering tiffins to people fearing the law and order issues in the city. 

  • 08:58 (IST)

    Don't believe in rumours, says Central Railways

    "Please don't believe in rumours. Central Railway will keep you posted with hourly updates," Sunil Udasi, CPRO of the Central Railways tells citizens. 
     

  • 08:50 (IST)

    Section 144 imposed in Thane

  • 08:49 (IST)

    Trains running normally in Central Railway

    Few protestors tried to disrupt Railway services at Thane but were immediately cleared by RPF and GRP officials.  Services are running uninterrupted on Central Railway as of now, said Central Railway. 

Protesters have blocked the Eastern Expressway at Ghatkopar. CNN-News18 reports that protesters in Ghatkopar and Goregaon also forced people travelling in buses to get down. According to the report, protesters are stopping buses and allowing only empty buses to go ahead. In addition, the Barkat Ali Road in Wadala too has been closed by the police.

Protesters tried to disrupt railway service in Nalasopara on the Western line. However, with timely intervention of the police, the tracks have been cleared for traffic.  The Central Railway, too, in a statement, said that train service is running uninterrupted except for some protests in Diva and Vashind. Overall, the situation overall remains under control in Mumbai and adjacent areas.

Section 144 has been imposed in Thane district till 4 January midnight as a precautionary measure. Schools and colleges in Maharashtra remain open and no holiday has been declared in the state.

Protesters in Thane, Virar and Goregaon tried to disrupt train services in the morning. However, the police was able to disperse them and re-start railway services. Nevertheless, BEST services are not plying on certain routes across Mumbai.

File image of Prakash Ambedkar. CNN News18

File image of Prakash Ambedkar. CNN News18

The caste clashes in Maharashtra has now reached the Indian Parliament. The Opposition has issued several adjournment motions to discuss the violence, which began in Bhima Koregaon on New Year's day. Home Minister Rajnath Singh is also likely to issue a statement in the Lok Sabha on the situation in Maharashtra.

Security has been tightened across Maharashtra in view of the bandh called by the Dalit groups. According to CNN-News18,  several troops of the Rapid Action Force have been deployed across Mumbai, especially in eastern suburbs like Chembur and Ghatkopar, which were badly affected by violence on Tuesday.

However, the CNN-News18 report added that the situation is currently normal in the eastern and western suburbs of Mumbai. The Maharashtra government has urged citizens to not believe in any rumours of a holiday on Wedneday. Meanwhile, over 40,000 school buses will not ply on Mumbai roads on Wednesday fearing violence.

The state-wide bandh has been called by the Bharipa Bahujan Mahasangh and several other Dalit organisations on Wednesday to protest the state government's "failure" to stop the violence at Bhima Koregaon village in Pune district on Monday.

"We have made elaborate arrangements to keep the situation under control in view of the bandh. Extra forces have been kept on standby. Some areas have been identified where internet could be suspended so people cannot spread rumours on social media,” DGP Satish Mathur told The Indian Express. 

Mumbai Traffic Police has also taken precautionary measures to ensure smooth flow of traffic. "All traffic personnel will be on their toes to ensure smooth flow of traffic, especially on the Eastern Express Highway," police officer told DNA.

Prakash Ambedkar had alleged that Hindu Ekta Aghadi was responsible for the violence.


He said Maharashtra Democratic Front, Maharashtra Left Front, besides 250 organisations, have supported Wednesday's shutdown.

Ambedkar, the grandson of Dalit icon BR Ambedkar, has appealed for peace during the bandh period.


Referring to the caste clashes in Bhima Koregaon, Ambedkar ruled out any conflict between Marathas and Dalits.

"If there was any tension, the 200th anniversary commemoration of the Bhima Koregaon battle would not have taken place. The program was organised by Sambhaji Brigade (a Maratha organisation)," he said while addressing a press conference in Mumbai.

He alleged the trouble occurred because of Hindu Ekta Aghadi and Shivraj Pratishthan, headed by Milind Ekbote and Sambhaji Bhide, respectively.

"Akhil Bharatiya Hindu Sabha (ABHS), Peshwa heirs, had opposed the event. We held talks with ABHS after which they decided against opposing," he said.

The event to mark 200th anniversary of the Bhima Koregaon battle in Pune district, in which forces of the East India Company defeated Peshwa's army, was marred by incidents of violence on Monday, with at least one person was killed.

Dalit leaders commemorate the British victory, as it is believed that soldiers from the Mahar community — then considered untouchable — were part of the East India Company's forces.

Ambedkar alleged that villagers were provoked by the Shivraj Pratisthan while the Hindu Ekta Agadhi hurled stones at people going towards the Koregaon war memorial.

He demanded that various types of grants and subsidies being given by the government to villages along Koregaon, Shiroor and Chakan, be stopped.

Ambedkar said a judicial probe ordered by Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis into the violence should be headed by chief justice of high court and not by a sitting judge.

The violence sparked off protests in various parts of Maharashtra on Tuesday, including in Mumbai where protesters staged a rail roko in suburban Chembur.


Published Date: Jan 03, 2018 11:37 am | Updated Date: Jan 03, 2018 11:50 am



Also See