Maharashtra bandh: Protests against Bhima Koregaon violence intensify

Widespread protests were witnessed across Maharashtra on Tuesday against the violence that erupted on the previous evening at an event to commemorate the Battle of Koregaon – a heroic episode in the Dalit history -- with demonstrators damaging buses, blocking roads and forcing shops to down shutters.

The caste clash in the state has so far left one dead, while more than a 100 people have been detained in various areas.Section 144 has been imposed in Thane till January 4, midnight.

A call for a statewide bandh on Wednesday was given by Prakash Ambedkar, the grandson of Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar and chief of the Bhartiya Republican Party Bahujan Mahasangh.

Commuters stranded due to less number of auto-rickshaws and other



transport in Mumbai. 

Administration and security forces are making all efforts to normalize the train operations, says Western Railways.Large number of protesters have occupied the railway tracks at Nallasopara Station, disrupting rail traffic. 

Inter-state bus services from Karnataka-Maharashtra temporarily suspended as a precautionary measure.Protesters halt buses, auto-rickshaws at Lal Bahadur Shastri Road in Thane, also deflate bus tyres. 

Mumbai Dabbawallas Association has decided to not run its delivery service, today; head of the association Subhash Talekar says "means of transportation difficult for delivery of tiffins on time during the bandh in Maharashtra.