Marathwada region tense but situation normal in Mumbai-Pune

Mumbai, Dec 1 (UNI) After the two-day mob fury in parts of Maharashtra, in which three persons were killed and 200 injured, over the desecration of statue of Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar in Kanpur, the situation was gradually limping back to normalcy in the metropolis and Pune today but in Marathwada region, violence continued unabated leading to imposition of curfew in Nanded and Aurangabad.

Curfew was reimposed in Nanded as agitators continued to pelt stones at passing vehicles while in Akola, dalit groups intensified their agitation, holding rasta-rokos at a number of places in the city and nearby villages, forcing passengers to alight from State Transport buses and smash the window-panes. A truck was set ablaze on the National Highway early today.

Additional companies of state reserve police have been deployed at various sensitive points in the city, police said.

In Aurangabad, curfew was reimposed from 2000 hrs tonight till 0600 hrs tomorrow as a precautionary measure. The city witnessed large-scale violence during the last two days. Police cane-charged agitators at Waluj in Pandharpur when they attempted to set afire a ST bus while in Beed, miscreants pelted stones on the office of BSNL after setting ablaze a jeep and a shop. Sporadic incidents of violence were also reported from Jalna, Parbani, Hingoli and Latur.

Taking a tough stand, Chief Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh, who cut short his Singapore visit, ordered investigation by the CID and submission of its report within one month into the eruption of violence and took a serious view of the torching of the Mumbai-Pune Deccan Queen and a suburban local yesterday near Ulhasnagar in Thane district. Police have so far arrested four suspects for the arson and a manhunt has been launched for 10 other persons.

He said, ''Over 2,000 people have been arrested in connection with the violence, in which, 560 vehicles, including 310 government-owned and 198 shops were damaged.'' More UNI team KU/OBB PK RN2204