Even as violence marks the protest, the BJP claims Monday's bandh is successful in the city
Even as violence marks the protest, the BJP claims Monday's bandh is successful in the city
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Violent incidents all over the city marked yesterday's Bharat bandh. The city witnessed a complete shutdown. The police arrested 482 people and detained 645.
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| UP IN FLAMES: A PMPML bus set on fire by protesters at 1.15 pm near Kothrud bus depot. Pic/Jignesh Mistry |
Schools, colleges and multiplexes remained closed. The number of patients visiting hospitals saw a drop, compared to the usual daily figures.
Leader of the opposition in the assembly, Eknath Khadse of the Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP), was arrested along with 125 activists and released soon after. Khadse addressed a public meeting in the afternoon, after which the police took him into custody.
BJP MLA Madhuri Misal, BJP leader Anil Shirole and Maharashtra Navnirman Sena MLA Ramesh Wanjale were arrested by the police for staging protests.
In his speech, Khadse claimed the bandh was 100 per cent successful all overu00a0 the state. After his release by the police, Khadse left for Ahmednagar.
Mayor Mohansingh Rajpal condemned the opposition parties for forcibly shutting shops.
Buses targeted Joint Commissioner of Police (Law and Order) Rajendra Sonawane said, "Pune saw a near-total bandh; I would say 99 per cent of the city was affected. Kothrud was the most affected area, with 12 PMPML buses targeted in the area. Incidents of rasta roko were reported from Vishrambaug and Vishrantwadi areas, while in Hadapsar, Shivajinagar, Wanawadi, Nigdi and Kondhwa it was mostly buses that were attacked."
Protesters stoned 97 PMPML buses plying in the city and Pimpri-Chinchwad.
"The first incident of violence was reported from Yerawada on Sunday midnight, while no reports of violence were received after 3 pm on Monday," said Sonawane.
Schools, collegesMost schools and colleges wore a deserted look with the only students present being the ones who used private cars or cycles. Quite a few schools and colleges chose to remain closed rather than compromise the safety of students.
A teacher from St Vincent High School said only two to three students were present per class. Manisha Sablok, principal, MIT English High School, said, "We had very poor attendance. There were no autos and buses."
Many private colleges also remained closed.
Hospitals
Most city hospitals were working at virtually full staff strength. Municipal Commissioner R R Pardeshi said no change in routine was observed at civic hospitals.
Dean of Sassoon General Hospital Dr Arun Jamkar said OPD cases and new admissions had nearly halved. Compared to 1,250 patients daily, only 700 patients were reported. Pimpri-Chinchwad's YCM hospital and private hospitals such as Jehangir hospital and Deenanath Mangeshkar hospital also saw a sharp drop in new cases. Mahendra Pitaliya, co-ordinator of Chemist Association of Poona District, said most chemists in the city were open.
TrainsA Railways source said, "Demonstrators staged protests in front of the Deccan Express and two locals, delaying them by 15 minutes at Ghorpadi and Pimpri station. Fifteen persons were arrested for disrupting railway traffic."
RestaurantsThe bandh forced restaurants to remain closed till late in the evening. Restaurant owners said their earnings had been severely affected.
Chiru Chandavarkar from Malaka Spice said, "We do not do super business on Monday anyway, but keeping the restaurant shut is a big loss."
Civic servicesThe PMC administration on Monday claimed that 92 per cent of their employees reported for work. The fire brigade office and its 12 sub-stations were operational throughout the day.
No major untoward incident was reported during the bandh period, said Fire Brigade officials.
Garbage collection in Katraj and Kondhwa was affected. Bandh supporters pelted stones on at least
six refuse collection trucks, forcing them to turn back.
(Inputs from Salil Urunkar, Kaumudi Gurjar, Debarati Palit, Vivek Sabnis and Alifiya Khan)
