Maharashtra caste clash | Centre receives report on situation; protests spring up in Gujarat
The Mumbai Police registered 16 FIRs and detained over 300 people in connection with protests by Dalit groups during the day-long bandh yesterday against the Bhima Koregaon caste clashes.
Published: 02nd January 2018 03:47 PM | Last Updated: 05th January 2018 09:50 AM | A+A A-

Dalit protesters block a road during Maharashtra bandh called over Koregaon violence in Thane, Mumbai on Wednesday. (PTI)
The Mumbai Police registered 16 FIRs and detained over 300 people in connection with protests by Dalit groups during the day-long bandh yesterday against the Bhima Koregaon caste clashes, while Internet services were suspended in Kolhapur following tension in the district.
The caste clash in the state has so far left two dead in three days.
Violence had erupted on Monday evening at an event to commemorate the Battle of Koregaon – a heroic episode in the Dalit history -- with demonstrators damaging buses, blocking roads and forcing shops to down shutters.
Here are the latest updates:
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Dalits in Bhopal protested the Pune violence. Parts of Burhanpur city were tense after a shutdown was called and more than 10 buses were damaged.
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Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut said the Bhima-Koregaon violence was very unfortunate, but the Maharashtra government’s patience averted situation to become worse.
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Over 30 policemen sustained injuries in the city yesterday during the protest called by various Dalit groups, a senior police official said Thursday. More than 300 people had also been reportedly detained as part of the investigations into the incidents that occurred during the protests.
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In the wake of protests spreading to Gujarat, buses in Junagarh shifted from depots to a division workshop in order to prevent damage. (ANI)
#Gujarat: Agitating over #BhimaKoregaonViolence, protesters block Madhuram by-pass road in Junagarh, traffic affected. pic.twitter.com/TeJLR9ImA1
— ANI (@ANI) January 4, 2018
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The Centre has assured the state government that all necessary assistance to deal with the violence and protests and bring back normalcy to the state. (PTI)
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The Union Home Ministry has received a factual report from the Maharashtra government on the prevailing situation in the state. (PTI)
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Normalcy restored in Mumbai after yesterday's protests over Bhima Koregaon violence in the state.
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A Total of 16 FIRs have been registered relating to incidents during the Maharashtra Bandh yesterday and more than 300 miscreants have been detained: Mumbai Police [READ FULL REPORT]
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A Dalit group held a protest march in Surat's Udhna locality to express solidarity with the community members in Maharashtra over the caste violence in Pune district on January 1.
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BSP chief Mayawati on Wednesday accused the BJP and the RSS of engineering the caste violence in Pune and other parts of Maharashtra.
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Union Minister Ram Vilas Paswan today called for a time-bound inquiry into the Maharashtra caste clash and said strict action should be taken against those found guilty.
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A 16-year-old student was killed in violence during a roadblock agitation in this district during Wednesday's Maharashtra 'bandh' called by Dalit parties.
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An inquiry will be conducted in the incidents of violence that took place across Maharashtra. We are monitoring the CCTV footage of the violence: CM Devendra Fadnavis
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Prakash Ambedkar called off its 'Maharashtra Shutdown' which left large parts of Mumbai and rest of the state virtually paralysed for 10 hours.
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Normal route from South Mumbai to airport through Worli Sea face is clear: Mumbai Police
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Activist and grandson of BR Ambedkar, Prakash Ambedkar withdraws Maharashtra bandh call Bhima Koregaon Violence
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There has been no death of a person from Dalit community. Wrong messages are being spread on social media, people have to be very cautious. The situation overall is peaceful in Maharashtra: Deepak Kesarkar, MoS, Home Rural on Bhima Koregaon Violence
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All train lines which were blocked by the protesters, have been evacuated and operations have resumed, informed the Western Railways.
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Jo organised tareeke se Maharashtra ke andar hinsa karai jaa rahi hai aur jis prakar ke bhashan diye gaye hain, ek baar uss taraf bhi neta-pratipaksh thoda dhyan dein: Arun Jaitley in Rajya Sabha (ANI)
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We condemn the statement by Law Minister, that we are raising Bhima Koregaon Violence issue to stall Triple Talaq Bill. We have been raising the issue of Dalit atrocities as this govt is anti-Dalit: Ghulam Nabi Azad in Rajya Sabha (ANI)
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Traffic from Haji Ali Jn has been diverted through Mahalaxmi/ Senapati Bapat Marg temporarily due to congestion at Mela Junction: Mumbai Police
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Traffic at Eastern Expressway affected due to Traffic Blockade near Ramabai Ambedkar Nagar. Traffic has been diverted to avoid inconvenience: Mumbai Police
Maharashtra: Heavy Police deployment in Aurangabad, stones pelted & vehicles vandalized by protesters #BhimaKoregaonViolence pic.twitter.com/8RuCB3hNa2
— ANI (@ANI) January 3, 2018
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Train services on Central Railway's mainline towards CSMT was affected, in turn delaying thousands of office-goers in Mumbai. [READ FULL REPORT]
'Rasta Roko' protest being held in Andheri on the Western Express Highway #Mumbai #BhimaKoregaonViolence pic.twitter.com/2vsBRCvRRt
— ANI (@ANI) January 3, 2018
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Several markets and most schools in Nagpur remains closed with protest marches taken out in many sensitive areas in the city. [READ FULL REPORT]
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There is no cancellation of long-distance trains so far in Mumbai. (ANI)
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Other Mumbai suburban services are being run amid intermittent protests at Elphinstone Road, Goregaon, Dadar, and Malad. (ANI)
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Remaining services of Mumbai's AC local suspended for the day. (ANI)
#Mumbai: Brihanmumbai Electric Supply and Transport (BEST) buses and a car vandalized by protesters in Powai #BhimaKoregaonViolence pic.twitter.com/CuZXzvwa02
— ANI (@ANI) January 3, 2018
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Both up and down lines, which were blocked by the protesters from 12.05 hrs have been evacuated at 12.24 hrs and train operations have resumed at Goregaon. Trains are delayed due to it, according to Western Railways. (ANI)
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Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge says "Supreme Court judge should be appointed for inquiry in Bhima Koregaon violence. PM should also give a statement, he can't stay mum! He is a 'Mauni baba on such issues." (ANI)
Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge raises the issue of #BhimaKoregaonViolence in Lok Sabha, asks "who instigated and interfered in this event?" pic.twitter.com/XyNh3SKJwa
— ANI (@ANI) January 3, 2018
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Security tightened outside Maharashtra Sadan. (ANI)
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Two Thane Municipal Transport buses and an auto-rickshaw vandalized in Chendani Koliwada area. Four passengers have been injured in the incident. (ANI)
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A rickshaw driver in Mulund told ANI, "We are supporting this bandh only because we are scared of our loss. They can vandalize anything here."
Maharashtra: Protests being carried out in the state; visuals from Nagpur's Shatabdi Square #BhimaKoregaonViolence pic.twitter.com/CRxHim7qOl
— ANI (@ANI) January 3, 2018
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Commuters stranded due to less number of auto-rickshaws and other transport in Mumbai. (ANI)
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Administration and security forces are making all efforts to normalize the train operations, says Western Railways. (ANI)
Commuters are advised to avoid Kalanagar & MMRDA Junction for some time due to Rasta roko #TrafficUpdate
— Mumbai Police (@MumbaiPolice) January 3, 2018
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Large number of protesters have occupied the railway tracks at Nallasopara Station, disrupting rail traffic. (ANI)
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Inter-state bus services from Karnataka-Maharashtra temporarily suspended as a precautionary measure. (ANI)
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Protesters halt buses, auto-rickshaws at Lal Bahadur Shastri Road in Thane, also deflate bus tyres. (ANI)
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Mumbai Dabbawallas Association has decided to not run its delivery service, today; head of the association Subhash Talekar says "means of transportation difficult for delivery of tiffins on time during the bandh in Maharashtra. (ANI)
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"Few protestors tried to disrupt Railway services at Thane but were immediately cleared by RPF and GRP officials. Services are running uninterrupted on Central Railway as of now," says CPRO Central Railway. (ANI)
Maharashtra: Protesters halt a train at Thane Railway Station over #BhimaKoregaonViolence pic.twitter.com/BHLsWmfpmk
— ANI (@ANI) January 3, 2018
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Protesters halt a train at Thane Railway Station. (ANI)
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Section 144 has been imposed in Maharashtra's Thane till January 4, midnight, according to reports. (ANI)
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In view of the protests, domestic carriers including government-owned Air India have waived charges for ticket cancellations and no show due to the ongoing unrest in parts of Maharashtra.
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Maharashtra government must ensure rule of law. I appeal to the people of Maharashtra to maintain peace, says Jignesh Mevani
CSMT-Panvel harbour line services restored from 1640 hrs. @RidlrMUM @mumbairailusers
— Central Railway (@Central_Railway) January 2, 2018
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More than 100 people have been detained over different locations: Mumbai Police PRO
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Activist and grandson of BR Ambedkar, Prakash Ambedkar had given a call for Maharashtra Bandh on Wednesday to protest against the Bhima Koregaon violence. Left parties have reportedly lent support to the call.
Maharashtra: Republican Party of India workers protest in Thane #BhimaKoregaonViolence pic.twitter.com/v9mMS2APNR
— ANI (@ANI) January 2, 2018
Maharashtra: Security heightened in Mumbai's Chembur #BhimaKoregaonViolence pic.twitter.com/WGAIDaKJX7
— ANI (@ANI) January 2, 2018
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Mumbai Special train services being run on Harbour line between CSMT-Kurla and Mankhurd. All other services on Central Railway running normally.
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Section 144 has not been imposed in Chembur or other parts of eastern suburbs: Mumbai Police PRO
#chembur amar mahal bridge blocked causing heavy jam. #easternexpressway jammed too @RidlrMUM @MumbaiPolice pic.twitter.com/50o8pIvzPk
— chemburstreets (@chemburstreets) January 2, 2018
Many shops are getting closed in Eastern Suburb of #Mumbai. One #BEST bus stoned, rasta roko at Amar Mahal #Mumbai @RidlrMUM pic.twitter.com/KVsL1XKgrx
— Rakesh (@rakeshcamin) January 2, 2018
Don’t believe in rumours. Traffic on Eastern expressway was affected due to protests. It’s moving now. Traffic at Chembur Naka is still affected. There is nothing to panic. Verify facts with police officers and men before posting anything on social media.
— Mumbai Police (@MumbaiPolice) January 2, 2018
Pune: Buses vandalised in Hadapsar, Fursungi; all bus services to Ahemadnagar, Aurangabad suspended #BhimaKoregaonViolence pic.twitter.com/8ZH7zNsfwD
— ANI (@ANI) January 2, 2018
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Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Tuesday announced Rs 10 lakh for the kin of the deceased. He has also ordered a CID enquiry over the youth.
Maharashtra CM @Dev_Fadnavis orders judicial enquiry for #BhimaKoregaon incident.
— CMO Maharashtra (@CMOMaharashtra) January 2, 2018
Also orders a CID enquiry for the death of a youth & an assistance of ₹10 lakh to his kin.
Strict action will be taken against the all those who are spreading rumours & trying to invoke violence. pic.twitter.com/TvMVVgSWRV
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“Thousands of Dalits from all across the state paid tributes at the Victory Pillar. Members of Samata Sainik Dal also carried out a parade. But, towards evening, a group of youths carrying saffron flags and with their faces covered, came on bikes shouting slogans Jai Shivaji, Jai Bhavani. Some of them threw stones at people returning from the victory pillar and at the police,” an eyewitness said.
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Incidents of stone-pelting and vandalism occurred at Bhima Koregaon in Shiroor tehsil on Monday afternoon when people were heading for the war memorial in the village, police said.
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Union Minister of State for Social Justice Ramdas Athawale demanded police protection for dalits in the wake of Monday's violence. "Dalit groups visiting Bhima Koregaon were stopped at Sanaswadi near Koregaon. Stones were hurled at them. No police force was available for their protection," Athawale said in a statement.
Jignesh Mewani, Omar Khalid, Prakash Ambedkar and Radhika Vemula in Pune at an event marking the 200th anniversary of the Battle of Bhima Koregaon (31.12.17) pic.twitter.com/s4ngA9T8hc
— ANI (@ANI) January 2, 2018
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Earlier on Monday, dalit leader and independent MLA from Gujarat Jignesh Mevani visited the war memorial in the village. Mevani had also attended 'Elgaar Parishad' held in Pune to commemorate the battle Sunday.
The pillar commemorates the victory of around 600 British troops, comprising mainly Mahar (Dalit) soldiers, over a 2,000-strong Maratha force under the upper-caste Peshwas that was backed by a larger army of over 28,000 Maratha troops in the battle of Koregaon, which is considered a heroic episode of Dalit history.
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.
However, some right-wing groups in Pune had expressed opposition to the celebration of the 'British' victory.