Despite appeals by the organisers, the Maratha-sponsored Maharashtra shutdown turned violent in many parts of the state with incidents of arson, road blocks and clashes with police before it ended on Thursday evening, officials said.

Though the shutdown got on to a peaceful start in the morning, within hours there were many incidents of violence, especially in Pune district. A dozen public and private vehicles were damaged in other parts of the state. The Maratha Kranti Morcha and Sakala Maratha Samaj had issued a -code of conduct- to the supporters to ensure a violence-free shutdown but it remained on paper.