Mumbai Bandh: Striking images of the Dalit Protests that crippled the city

In wake of the Dalit community's call for a statewide bandh on Wednesday Several towns and cities in Maharashtra were on edge on Tuesday as Dalit Protests against Monday's violence in Pune's Koregaon spilled over to capital Mumbai, With agitators damaging scores of buses, and disrupting road and rail traffic. We have pictures of how the protest took hold of Mumbai on Tuesday and Wednesday

Updated On: 2018-01-03 10:15 AM IST

Maharashtra remained on edge after the anniversary of a battle fought 200 years ago brought to fore simmering caste tensions even as a statewide bandh called today to protest the state government's alleged failure to stop violence witnessed stray protest by Dalits. Pic/ Manjeet

Maharashtra remained on edge after the anniversary of a battle fought 200 years ago brought to fore simmering caste tensions even as a statewide bandh called today to protest the state government's alleged failure to stop violence witnessed stray protest by Dalits. Pic/ Manjeet

Dalit protesters tried to block tracks at the Thane railway station today morning, but they were chased away soon and the traffic on the Central Railway line remained uninterrupted, said a railway official. Pic/ Manjeet

Dalit protesters tried to block tracks at the Thane railway station today morning, but they were chased away soon and the traffic on the Central Railway line remained uninterrupted, said a railway official. Pic/ Manjeet

Protesters also tried to block rail traffic on the Western line in suburban Goregaon, said a police official. Today's Class 11 exams at St Xavier's College in South Mumbai have been cancelled, college authorities said. Pic/ Manjeet

Protesters also tried to block rail traffic on the Western line in suburban Goregaon, said a police official. Today's Class 11 exams at St Xavier's College in South Mumbai have been cancelled, college authorities said. Pic/ Manjeet

Bharipa Bahujan Mahasangh (BBM) leader and Dr B R Ambedkar's grandson Prakash Ambedkar have called for Maharashtra bandh today to protest the state government's 'failure' to stop the violence at Bhima Koregaon village in Pune district two days ago. Ambedkar alleged that Hindu Ekta Aghadi was responsible
for the violence. Pic/ Manjeet

Bharipa Bahujan Mahasangh (BBM) leader and Dr B R Ambedkar's grandson Prakash Ambedkar said Maharashtra Democratic Front, Maharashtra Left Front and some 250 other organisations have supported the call for shutdown

Bharipa Bahujan Mahasangh (BBM) leader and Dr B R Ambedkar's grandson Prakash Ambedkar said Maharashtra Democratic Front, Maharashtra Left Front and some 250 other organisations have supported the call for shutdown

While the state government clarified that it hasn't declared a school holiday, bus operators said they won't run school buses in Mumbai today. pic/Ashish Raje

While the state government clarified that it hasn't declared a school holiday, bus operators said they won't run school buses in Mumbai today. pic/Ashish Raje

'We can't risk students' safety and security. Will take a second decision at 11 am if we can run them in the second half, depending on the situation,' a School Bus Owners' Association spokesperson said. pic/Ashish Raje

Gujarat MLA and Dalit leader Jignesh Meavani, who was in Mumbai yesterday, alleged the attacks on Dalits in Pune district two days ago were carried out by supporters of the BJP and the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh. pic/Ashish Raje

Gujarat MLA and Dalit leader Jignesh Meavani, who was in Mumbai yesterday, alleged the attacks on Dalits in Pune district two days ago were carried out by supporters of the BJP and the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh. pic/Ashish Raje

'These organisations are modern-day Peshwas, representing Brahminism in its worst form. Two hundred years ago, our forefathers fought against the Peshwas. Today, Dalits of my generation are fighting against the new Peshwas,'Gujarat MLA and Dalit leader Jignesh Meavani. pic/Ashish Raje

'Why can't Dalits peacefully commemorate the anniversary of the Bhima Koregaon battle? The attackers have resorted to such methods because they are scared of Dalit assertion,' Gujarat MLA and Dalit leader Jignesh Meavani. pic/Ashish Raje

'Why can't Dalits peacefully commemorate the anniversary of the Bhima Koregaon battle? The attackers have resorted to such methods because they are scared of Dalit assertion,' Gujarat MLA and Dalit leader Jignesh Meavani. pic/Ashish Raje

Pune police last night said they had received a complaint against Mevani and Delhi's Jawaharlal Nehru University's (JNU) student leader Umar Khalid for their 'provocative' speeches at an event in Pune on December 31 Gujarat MLA and Dalit leader Jignesh Meavani said. pic/Ashish Raje

Pune police last night said they had received a complaint against Mevani and Delhi's Jawaharlal Nehru University's (JNU) student leader Umar Khalid for their 'provocative' speeches at an event in Pune on December 31 Gujarat MLA and Dalit leader Jignesh Meavani said. pic/Ashish Raje

Mevani and Khalid had attended the 'Elgar Parishad', an event organised to commemorate the 200th anniversary of the battle of Bhima-Koregaon, at Shaniwar Wada in Pune. Violence erupted in Pune district when Dalit groups were celebrating the bicentenary of the Bhima-Koregaon battle in which the forces of the British East India Company defeated the Peshwa's army. pic/Ashish Raje

Mevani and Khalid had attended the 'Elgar Parishad', an event organised to commemorate the 200th anniversary of the battle of Bhima-Koregaon, at Shaniwar Wada in Pune. Violence erupted in Pune district when Dalit groups were celebrating the bicentenary of the Bhima-Koregaon battle in which the forces of the British East India Company defeated the Peshwa's army. pic/Ashish Raje

Dalit leaders commemorate the British victory, as it is believed that soldiers from the Mahar community - then considered untouchable - were part of the East India Company's forces. The Peshwas were Brahmins, and the victory is seen as a symbol of assertiveness by Dalits. pic/Ashish Raje

Dalit leaders commemorate the British victory, as it is believed that soldiers from the Mahar community - then considered untouchable - were part of the East India Company's forces. The Peshwas were Brahmins, and the victory is seen as a symbol of assertiveness by Dalits. pic/Ashish Raje

Protestors gathered at various places across the city and staged rasta and rail roko andolans. pic/Ashish Raje

Shops downed their shutters out of fear of property destruction. pic/Ashish Raje

Shops downed their shutters out of fear of property destruction. pic/Ashish Raje

Protestors took to the streets with flags and shouting slogans. pic/Ram Shukla

Protestors took to the streets with flags and shouting slogans. pic/Ram Shukla

This scene was shot at Virar station as protestors staged a rail roko andolan at the station. Pic/ Manjeet

This scene was shot at Virar station as protestors staged a rail roko andolan at the station. Pic/ Manjeet

Protestors also gathered at Lokhandwala complex at Kandivali. Pics/ Ram Shukla

BEST buses were plying as people lined the streets at Lokhandwala complex in Kandivali. Pics/ Ram Shukla

Rasta Roko was staged at Worli Naka near BIT chawl. Pic/ Bipin Kokate

Rasta Roko was staged at Worli Naka near BIT chawl. Pic/ Bipin Kokate

Rasta roko protest at Worli naka near BIT chawl. Pic. Bipin Kokate

Rasta roko protest at Worli naka near BIT chawl. Pic. Bipin Kokate

RPI party workers held a rasta roko at Ramabai nagar. Pic/Suresh Karkera

RPI party workers held a rasta roko at Ramabai nagar. Pic/Suresh Karkera

The protests started at around 9.30am and continued well into the afternoon

The protests started at around 9.30am and continued well into the afternoon

The Dalit protests sent the city into a tizzy and saw a number of people on the streets

The Dalit protests sent the city into a tizzy and saw a number of people on the streets

Protestors took to the streets amidts heavy police bandobast across the city

Protestors took to the streets amidts heavy police bandobast across the city

The rasts roko andolan staged by RPI workers crippled the city and brought traffic to a standstill in many parts of the city. Pic/Nimesh dave

The rasts roko andolan staged by RPI workers crippled the city and brought traffic to a standstill in many parts of the city. Pic/Nimesh dave

The mob took to the roads amidst police presence at Kalanagar Junction. Pic/Nimesh Dave

The mob took to the roads amidst police presence at Kalanagar Junction. Pic/Nimesh Dave

RPI workers surround vehicles on the road as a part of the rasta roko andolan in Mumbai. Pic/ Nimesh Dave

RPI workers surround vehicles on the road as a part of the rasta roko andolan in Mumbai. Pic/ Nimesh Dave

A huge mob of people collected at Kalanagar Junction as a part of the rasta roko andolan at Bandra. Pic/Nimesh Dave

A huge mob of people collected at Kalanagar Junction as a part of the rasta roko andolan at Bandra. Pic/Nimesh Dave

The Rasta Roko at Kalanagar junction staged by RPI workers crippled the city, leaving a number of people stranded. Pic/Nimesh Dave

The Rasta Roko at Kalanagar junction staged by RPI workers crippled the city, leaving a number of people stranded. Pic/Nimesh Dave

RPI workers including women staged a rasta roko at Kalanagar junction, Bandra. Pic/ Nimesh Dave

RPI workers including women staged a rasta roko at Kalanagar junction, Bandra. Pic/ Nimesh Dave

An RPI worker stages a protest at Kalanagar Junction, Bandra. pic/Nimesh Dave

An RPI worker stages a protest at Kalanagar Junction, Bandra. pic/Nimesh Dave

RPI workers also held a rasta roko at Kalanagar junction. Pic/Nimesh Dave

RPI workers also held a rasta roko at Kalanagar junction. Pic/Nimesh Dave

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