Maharashtra shutdown: Maratha Kranti Morcha calls off Mumbai bandh

Mumbai, July 25: The Maratha Kranti Morcha that was enforcing its state-wide bandh in support of the community's demand for reservation in jobs and education, called off Mumbai bandh on Wednesday. Large scale violence was witnessed on across the state by Maratha outfits demanding reservation for the community across Maharashtra.

Here are the HIGHLIGHTS:

Through the day, protesters blocked arterial roads, including the Mumbai-Pune highway and the Eastern Expressway, and forced shops to shut in pockets of Raigad. Local train routes were blocked in Jogeshwari and near Thane. Violent protests had erupted in parts of the state on Tuesday after a protester committed suicide by jumping into a river in Aurangabad.

Sakal Maratha Samaj has called for a bandh in Navi Mumbai and Panvel as well.

Another vandalism report comes in from Thane - Protestors have vandalised a Thane Municipal Transport (TMT) bus in Wagle Estate area of the city.

Leaders of Maratha Kranti Morcha told ANI that their protest is a peaceful one. "We are not blocking any road. We are carrying out a peaceful protest. We have told our workers that there should be no inconvenience to the police or the government due to our protest. We are asking people to shut down their shops," he said.

Meanwhile, Protesters pelted stones on two Brihanmumbai Electric Supply and Transport (BEST) buses near Navi Mumbai's Ghansoli this morning. BEST bus services from Airoli to Vashi have been completely stopped today in the light of Maharashtra bandh.

Maharashtra Education Minister Vinod Tawde said that law and order conditions will be assessed by local police authorities to decide whether schools and colleges should be kept open.

On Tuesday, one constable died and nine other policemen were injured in stone pelting when the agitators clashed with the police and torched vehicles amid suicide attempt by two protesters. T

The impact of Maharashtra bandh was more visible in Aurangabad and adjoining districts, a day after the death of a protester during a protest march in favour of reservations.