Curfew imposed in parts of Pune

Pune, Nov 30 (UNI) Curfew has been imposed in some parts of Pune from the wee hours today as violence continues unabated, following the desecration of a bust of Dalit icon Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar in Kanpur on Tuesday.

The Pune police have taken the decision after evaluating the situation and have imposed curfew in Bhatnagar, Ambedkar Nagar and Pimpri- Chinchwad, all stronghold areas of the Dalits.

Republican Party of India (RPI) activists yesterday protested against the Kanpur incident by organising 'Rasta Roko' at different places in the city. Activists also damaged over 50 vehicles, including 22 Pune Municipal Transport (PMT) State Transport Buses, private cars and two-wheelers, police said.

Talking to UNI, Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) Anil Kumbhare, said that RPI activists had gathered in large numbers infront of a government office at Pimpri, to protest the desecration incident.

However, that situation turned ugly today when they started pelting stones at passing vehicles on the Pune-Mumbai Highway.

In a bid to arrest the violence, police had to resort to using tear gas shells, he explained.

More UNI SP WD SK KP1332