Maharashtra bandh: Violent protests bring state to standstill

Mumbai: The Maharashtra bandh, called to protest the violence post an event to mark 200th anniversary of Bhima Koregaon battle, turned violent on Wednesday even as rail and road traffic was disrupted in the city.

Bharipa Bahujan Mahasangh leader and Dalit icon B R Ambedkar’s grandson Prakash Ambedkar had called for Maharashtra bandh to protest the state government’s “failure” to stop the violence at Bhima Koregaon village in Pune district two days ago.

Mumbai’s famed tiffin carriers ‘Dabbawalas’ chose not to provide their services on Wednesday.

Aurangabad University rescheduled exams as candidates could not make it to the centres, while internet services were suspended in the global tourist hotspot.

Ahmednagar: Schools and colleges remained shut as a precautionary measure and buses of the Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation (MSRTC) stayed off the roads. The effect of the bandh was seen in areas like Shrirampur, Kopergaon, Haregaon, Bhingar, Shevgaon, Jamkhed and Shirdi among other places.

Pune: The day-long shutdown received a mixed response in the city where shops remained partially open  throughout the day. Dalit organisations held separate morchas to the district collectorate in the city. A large number of police personnel was deployed across the city and in sensitive areas. Some dalit organisations tried to take out a morcha to the house of ad Hindu Ekta Aghadi leader Milind Ekbote, but were prevented by the police from doing so. Almost 80 per cent services of the Maharashtra State Regional Transport Corporation (MSRTC) were disrupted due to protests.

Kolhapur: The bandh took a violent turn as mobs attacked shops and vehicles at various locations in the city throughout the day and set a vehicle on fire in Shahupuri area. Stones were hurled at many public and private transport buses. Tension escalated after Dalit activists and Shiv Sena workers came face to face at some spots.

Nashik: Commercial establishments in the city and Satpur, Ambad, Nashik Road localities remained closed. Buses of the Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation and auto rickshaws too remained off the road. The administration had already declared a school and college holiday. More than 2,000 police personnel have been deployed in the city, said a police official.

Paswan seeks inquiry

Union Minister Ram Vilas Paswan on Wednesday called for a time-bound inquiry into the Maharashtra caste violence and said strict action should be taken against those found guilty.

RSS stands for peace: Satypal

The RSS is for establishing peace in the country and not to spread violence, Union minister Satyapal Singh said on Wednesday, defending the organisation against allegations that it fuelled the caste violence.

Outfit seeks compensation

A Maratha outfit on Wednesday demanded a Rs 25 lakh compensation to the family of the man killed in the violence at Bhima-Koregaon and also sought withdrawal of cases under the Atrocities Act filed against 49 people for an incident which took place late last month.