Maharashtra faced a setback right at the beginning of the year with caste clashes erupting across the state.
As the state was recuperating from the shocking loss of 14 lives in the Kamala mills tragedy in December, the new year began with the death of a person during the 200th anniversary of the Battle of Koregaon, on 1 January, near Pune, after a number of right-wing groups opposed the celebration of the event as anti-national and casteist.
The clashes soon spilled over to other parts of Maharashtra, which lead to ‘rasta roko’ protests by pro-Dalit groups. Several public properties were vandalised over two days as Prakash Ambedkar, chief of the Bharipa Bahujan Mahasangh, called for a bandh on Wednesday.
The Economic Loss
There was a fair deal of monetary loss in the state. The Federation of Retail Traders Welfare Association said that the bandh caused a loss of approximately Rs 700 crore for around 35 lakh businessmen, salaried and daily wage earners.
Normal life in Mumbai was disrupted as protesters attacked city buses, stopped suburban local services and blocked roads at various places in the city.
Even a day before the bandh, on 2 January, there were several pro-Dalits protests in suburban Chembur, Ghatkopar, Kamraj Nagar, Vikhroli, Dindoshi, Kandivali, Jogeshwari, Kalanagar and Mahim, police said.
Hundreds of protesters tried to block the Western Express Highway in the morning, but were moved from the spot by police.
In view of protests in the city and suburbs, police diverted traffic for smooth vehicular movement.
In a press conference, Viren Shah, president, Federation of Retail Traders Welfare Association said, “The bandh caused great inconvenience to the common man who travels by road and train. They were stuck for 8 to 10 hours.”
Moreover, he added, the damages cause to cars, Brihanmumbai Electric Supply and Transport (BEST) buses and other public properties affected the common man.
In Powai, BEST buses and a car were vandalised by protesters. In Thane, four people were injured after two buses and an auto were reportedly vandalised by protesters. Two autos were also allegedly vandalised in Kandivali.
Meanwhile, bus services between Ahmadnagar and Aurangabad were suspended after a few buses were vandalised in Hadaspar and Fursungi in protests led by Marathas.
(With inputs from PTI)
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