Buses attacked, roads blocked, Maratha outfits begin Mumbai bandh
Protesters attacked public buses in Maharashtra's capital Mumbai, and the neighboring Thane and Navi Mumbai as the bandh called by Maratha outfits over their demand for reservation began this morning. Two BEST buses were attacked by agitators in Kanjurmarg and Bhandup suburbs of Mumbai. Protesters also hurled stones at a public transport bus in Wagle Estate area of the Thane city.
BEST services partially suspended due to protests
In view of the stone-pelting on buses, the Brihanmumbai Electric Supply and Transport (BEST) partially suspended its services in those areas and expects to resume it when the situation improves, an official of the transport body said.
Protesters have reached Palghar and Raigad districts
The protesters blocked some areas in Thane, including the key Teen Hath Naka junction, resulting in long queues of vehicles on the road leading to Mumbai. A bus was attacked in Ghansoli area of Navi Mumbai following which the city transport authority suspended its services in the area. Agitators gathered at various locations in the Mumbai region and the neighboring Raigad and Palghar districts.
'Maratha Kranti Morcha', 'Sakal Maratha Samaj' among top Maratha agitators
At some places, protesters raised slogans against Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis and PWD Minister Chandrakant Patil for allegedly insulting sentiments of the Maratha community. The Maratha Kranti Morcha, which is demanding for reservation in jobs and education, has called for the shutdown in Mumbai and some neighboring districts. Another outfit, the Sakal Maratha Samaj, called for the bandh in Navi Mumbai and Panvel areas.
Suburban railway services not affected
The suburban railway services on the western, central, harbor, and trans-harbor lines were not affected, officials said. Around 70 lakh people travel in local trains daily in the Mumbai region.
Yesterday's violence killed 9 constables; 3 agitators committed suicide
Yesterday, a large-scale violence marred a state-wide protest by Maratha outfits in which a constable died and nine other policemen were injured amid a suicide attempt by three agitators during the violence. Agitators had clashed with the police and torched vehicles at several places, while Internet services were suspended in rural areas of Aurangabad district to prevent any untoward incident.
Maratha leaders say Fadnavis didn't fulfill assurances
Quotas for Marathas, a politically influential community that constitutes around 30% of the state's population, has been a hugely contentious issue. CM Fadnavis had canceled his visit to a temple in Pandharpur on Monday after protesters threatened to disrupt the event. Despite assurances from Fadnavis, nothing concrete has been done till now over the demands, community leaders have claimed.
