Maharashtra bandh: Police detain 150 miscreants, register FIRs; agitation partially affects Mumbai

Mumbai: Mumbai police have detained more than 150 miscreants for violence at several areas during Maharashtra bandh carried out on Wednesday. Six First Information Reports (FIRs) have been registered against the protestors on Wednesday under the Maharashtra Police Act, Defacement of Public Property, Criminal Amendment Act and the Indian Penal Code. The police are on the process of registering more FIRs.

The incidents of violence were reported at Sion, Dadar, Shivaji nagar, Govandi, Chembur, Ghatkopar, Worli, Dahisar, Kanjurmarg, Goregaon, Powai and Saki naka. Hundreds of protesters tried to block the Western Express Highway in the morning, but were moved from the spot by the police. A lady constable was injured in the fiasco at Acharya college at Chembur. 52 Bombay Electric Supply & Tramway Company Limited(BEST) buses on different routes were damaged by the protesters at Kanjumarg,Chembur naka, Worli naka, Mumbai Central, Wadala bridge, Lalji pada at Kandivali, Chandivali junction, Barve nagar at Ghatkopar, Charkop, Huma Talkies at Kanjurmarg, Shivaji nagar junction, Dahisar petrol pump, Novelty petrol pump, Shashri nagar at Goregaon, Malwani and Vikhroli Depot.The rear glass windows and glass panes of drivers cabin were damaged. Four BEST drivers were injured in the incident. The drivers Asarji Vishwanath Garje on route 172 from Pratiksha nagar at Sion to Jijamata nagar, Arun Ganpat Mirage on route 154 from Byculla station to Worli naka, Nitin Kamlakar Waghmare on route 496 from Majas Depot to Powai and Shashikant Ganpat Gosavi on route 229 from Santacruz to Motilal nagar suffered minor injuries. Two buses of Thane Municipal Corporation were damaged at City and Industrial Development Corporation of Maharashtra (CIDCO) bus stop at Thane after the protestors pelted stones. Stones were pelted at State Transport (ST) buses in Panvel.

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According to Sachin Patil, acting Mumbai Police Spokesperson said, “No firing incidents have been reported. More than 150 persons have been detained on Wednesday. We are in the process of registering FIRs against the protestors. They are being booked for rioting and damaging public property.” The Mumbai police had registered nine First Information Reports (FIRs) on Tuesday and booked more than 100 persons on Tuesday for the protest.

In view of protests in the city and suburbs, police diverted traffic for smooth vehicular movement.Mela junction at Worli naka and Malet /Orange Gate junction were affected. Along the Eastern Express Highway, Sion junction at Matunga, Amar Mahal junction at Chembur, Chheda nagar junction and Ramabai nagar at Ghatkopar and Mankhurd T Junction at Govandi were impacted by traffic congestion.Lal Bahadur Shastri Marg and Kamani junction at Kurla, Shreyas junction and Gandhi nagar at Ghatkopar were congested. Jogeshwari-Vikhroli Link road(JVLR) near Indian Institute of Technology at Powai and Gandhinagar at Ghatkopar were impacted by the bandh.

Traffic was affected along the Eastern Freeway, Indian Oil Corporation junction at Shivaji nagar, Mankhurd, Panjarpol, Trombay, and traffic at Bhakti Park at Wadala.In the western region, Akurli road and Samta nagar at Kandivali (east) were congested. According to Mahesh Patil, Superintendent of Police (Thane rural),“No incident of stone pelting anywhere in Thane rural district including Mira Bhayander area.”