The bandh called by the Sakal Maratha Morcha in Thane on Monday to protest the lathi-charge at Jalna on members of the Maratha community, saw many auto rickshaws off the roads and shops closed, but there were no untoward incidents. TMT buses and railway services continued undisrupted. Sakal Maratha Morcha (SMM) is backed by the Sambhaji Brigade and was supported by the Nationalist Congress Party (Sharad Pawar-led), Shiv Sena (UBT), Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) and the city unit of the Congress party for the bandh.

Many autos were affected in the morning and shops downed shutters till 5pm due to fear from damage by SMM members. However, no such incidents took place.
“Such shutdowns hit our pockets. We were asked to take our rickshaws back while on the way to the station. Party cadres even break things at times, though it didn’t happen this time,” said Laxmi Giri, a 60-year-old rickshaw driver. Police presence was seen across the city. The police said they had made all the necessary preparations for security. “At least 35 people were detained for mass gathering and were released after giving them a notice,” said Zone 1 DCP Ganesh Gawde.