A day after Prakash Ambedkar called for a Maharashtra bandh following violence that erupted in Bhima Koregaon and spread to Pune and Mumbai in which one person was killed, Mumbai defied the orders and people went to work as usual. However, Thane, where Section 144 has been imposed, chose to remain shut, even though the city witnessed office-goers standing in endless queues waiting for auto-rickshaws to show up.
Many schools remained shut in Thane, keeping the students’ safety in mind.
School bus services and Mumbai’s dabbawallas said that they won’t operate, several people were seen going to work and school,
Meanwhile, auto rickshaws stayed off the road in Thane, where Section 144 that prevents gathering of large groups, was imposed. People were seen standing in queue waiting for rickshaws to get to work.
Earlier, a few protestors tried disrupting railway services at Thane station that falls on the Central line, but were apprehended by Railway Protection Force officials. Railway services have been running normally since then.
Chembur and Ghatkopar witnessed high security after violence broke out on Tuesday in the area. Train services between Kurla and Vashi were shut for more than two hours as protestors staged a rail roko. Autorickshaws and buses were also damaged due to stone pelting. As violent protestors marched on the roads, public transport came to a complete halt in Mulund, Chembur, Govandi, Vikhroli and Ghatkopar.
“At least 15 per cent of our total autorickshaws did not ply due to the agitation,” said Shashank Rao, president, Mumbai Auto Rickshawmen Union.
At least 20 BEST buses and few bus stops were damaged in Chembur, Deonar, Amar Mahal, Kurla and Mulund. “The windows of our buses were damaged due to stone pelting,” said a BEST official.
Protestors blocked all the lanes on Eastern Express Highway (EEH). Mumbai police has detained 100 persons from different locations in the city following the citywide violence. Police informed that 40 private vehicles were damaged. The mob also burned down the police barricades on EEH.
As many as five policemen — a woman constable, JD More Assistant commissioner of police(Govandi Division) and other three constables — were injured in stone-pelting incidents.
Here are 10 important updates from this political story:
1: School buses will remain off roads in Mumbai today. School Bus Owners’ Association member, Anil Garg said that the bus services will run according to the situation. ‘Won’t run school buses in Mumbai today, can’t risk students’ safety and security. Will take a second decision at 11 a.m. if we can run them in the second half, depending on the situation,’ he was quoted as saying by news agency ANI.
2: Mumbai Dabbawallas Association has also decided to not run its delivery services today. Subhash Talekar, head of the association, said “means of transportation difficult for delivery of tiffins on time during Maharashtra Bandh.’
3: To check on any rumour, Mumbai Police has asked people to do their usual job and not believe on any false information. ‘Don’t believe or spread rumours, continue with your routine activities. Police administration is geared up to deal with any untoward situation,’ city police said in an advisory.
4: Following the violence, Section 144 has also been imposed in Thane till 4th January midnight. The prohibitory orders are still in place in Pune.
5: Heavy police deployment can be seen in parts of Mumbai.
6: The Bhima Koregaon violence spilled over to adjoining parts of Maharashtra after clashes broke out between the Dalits and alleged right-wing groups on Monday during the bicentenary celebration of the Bhima-Koregaon battle near Pune.
7: The right-wing groups were objecting to the observance of ‘Victory Day’ since they considered it to be an anti-national celebration.
8: Both RSS and BJP are being accused of instigating the violence by opposition leaders.
9: In the battle, which was fought between the British East India Company, containing Dalits in its infantry, and the Peshwas, who were upper-caste Brahmins, at Koregaon Bhima on January 1, 1818, the Marathas ultimately withdrew.
10: Since then, the lower-caste communities have been viewing it as a symbolic victory for themselves.