After 58 peaceful rallies across the state, the second phase of the Maratha agitation took a violent on Tuesday as the Maharashtra Bandh witnessed incidences of stone-pelting, vandalism and heckling of political leaders.
Meanwhile, Maratha Kranti Morcha (MKM) leaders have given the call for Maharashtra Bandh even on Wednesday, though educational institutions and essential services will be exempted from it.
Initially, MKM leaders had set August 9 as the day of the state-wide bandh, however outrage over the suicide of Kakasaheb Shinde gave rise to the spontaneous agitation on Tuesday. The 28-year-old jumped to his death into Godavari river. Rallies were seen in Mumbai, Navi Mumbai, Pune and Solapur.
The rage turned on political leaders such as Shiv Sena MP from Aurangabad Chandrakant Khaire. He was heckled by an angry mob at Shinde’s funeral in Kaygaon. As the angry mob approached him, some senior members of MKM and police helped Khaire to leave unharmed. Protesters also set a fire tender on fire and clashed with the police.
Two more protesters attempted suicide in Aurangabad on Tuesday – Guddu Sonavane jumped into a river in Kannad Taluka of Aurangabad, but was fished out by locals. In the same district, 55-year-old Jagannath Sonavane consumed poison, but was saved by timely intervention
Aurangabad police suspended Internet services in the entire city for 24 hours as a precautionary measure. “There was no issue of law and order,” a senior officer said, “We decided to suspend Internet services to check rumours in check so that they wouldn’t flare violence.”
Shyam Padgaonkar, a police constable deployed for bandobast in Kaygaon as Shinde’s last rites took place, passed away on duty. According to officials, he complained of chest ache and died of cardiac arrest on the way to the hospital.
Other districts also experienced sporadic incidents of violence. In Jalna, protesters pelted stones on police vehicles but nobody was injured. In Pune district, the protesters pelted stones at administrative building and state transport buses in Baramati taluka.
In Pune city, protesters came together in an impromptu rally. “Initially, we had decided to exclude cities such as Pune and Mumbai from the bandh,” said Shantaram Kunjir, a conveyors of MKM, “but some members who wanted to show their support for the bandh and hit the streets. Shops in Laxmi Road, Bajirao Road and Deccan area remained were shut in support of the bandh.”
State police has ensured action against miscreants. “Miscreants and culprits are being identified using technical aides, and the process of registration of cases is on,” said Bipin Bihari, acting Additional Director General of Police (State Law and Order).
Mumbai police has assured preparedness for Wednesday’s bandh. “We have deployed adequate bandobast and will ensure that public do not face any inconvenience,” said Deven Bharti, Joint Commissioner of Police (Law and Order, Mumbai).
NCP chief and former union agriculture minister Sharad Pawar called on the state government to open a dialogue with the protesters to defuse the situation. He also blamed chief minister Devendra Fadnavis and revenue minister Chandrakant Patil for the situation taking an adverse turn.
In a statement released late on Tuesday, Pawar called on the agitators, who have called for a bandh in Mumbai, Thane, Navi Mumbai, Palghar and Raigad, to protest peacefully, desist from damaging public property and preventing any effect on the common people to ensure public sympathy for their demand continued.
Strict Measures
- MP Chandrakant Khaire heckled at Kaygaon
- Cop Shyam Padgaonkar dies of heart attack
- Fire tender set on fire in Kaygaon
- Stone-pelting in Jalna, Baramati
- Call for a Mumbai bandh on Wednesday
