Protestor who committed suicide dies
Mumbai bandh: Protesters attacked public buses in Mumbai, and neighbouring 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 protestors in Kanjurmarg and Bhandup suburbs of Mumbai.
In view of the stone-pelting on buses, the Brihanmumbai Electric Supply and Transport (BEST) partially suspended its services in those areas but expects to resume services when the situation improves, an official of the transport body said.
Protesters also hurled stones at a public transport bus in Wagle Estate area of the neighbouring Thane city. They blocked some areas there, including the key Teen Hath Naka junction, resulting in long queues of vehicles on the road leading to Mumbai.
A bus was also attacked in Ghansoli area of Navi Mumbai following which the city transport authority suspended its services in the area, an official said.
Protestors gathered at various locations in the Mumbai region and the neighbouring Raigad and Palghar districts. At some places, protesters raised slogans against Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and Public Works Department Minister Chandrakant Patil for allegedly insulting sentiments of the Maratha community.
The suburban railway services on the western, central, harbour and trans-harbour lines were not affected, officials said.
Around 70 lakh people travel in local trains daily in the Mumbai region. The Maratha Kranti Morcha, which is spearheading the agitation for reservation in jobs and education, has called for the shutdown in Mumbai and some neighbouring districts today.
Another outfit, the Sakal Maratha Samaj, called for the bandh in Navi Mumbai and Panvel areas.
Rail roko at Thane, Jogeshwari :
Workers of the Maratha Kranti Morcha block a local train in Thane. Yesterday, protestors had said they would not disrupt train services. Violence has been witnessed in parts of Maharashtra as Maratha groups tried to enforce their daylong strike today.
The community has been demanding reservation in jobs and education.
Protesters have blocked arterial roads, including the Eastern Expressway, leading to Mumbai and forced shops to shut in parts of Thane and Navi Mumbai.
Local trains have been blocked at Jogeshwari and Thane. Violent protests erupted in parts of Maharashtra on Tuesday after a protester committed suicide by jumping in a river in Aurangabad. Massive security arrangements are in place in Mumbai even as schools and colleges remain open.
Rasta roko in Kandivali :
Supriya Nair @sup_3 tweets this image two hours ago from Kandivali: She said cars and autos were being stopped from going ahead in Kandivali.
Protestor who committed suicide dies :
Mumbai bandh: Jagannath Sonavne, a protester who attempted suicide by consuming poison yesterday in Aurangabad’s Deogaon Rangari, dies in a hospital. He was a protester in the agitation for reservation for Maratha community in govt jobs & education.Toll goes up to 3 — two protestors and one cop.
Western Express Highway’s south bound carriageway, into the city, was blocked by protesters. The police was trying to clear them.
