1 more killed as violence, arson rocks Maharashtra

A student was killed in the violence and arson that rocked Maharashtra during the bandh on Wednesday that brought Mumbai to its knees.

In Nanded's Ashti village, the family of an SSC student, Yogesh Jadhav (16), claimed that he succumbed to injuries sustained during a baton charge against protesters.

Late in the night, Maharashtra was slowly limping back to normalcy. The state is expected to be under a tight security blanket for a week.

Since the early hours of Wednesday, the impact of the bandh – called by Bharipa Bahujan Mahasangh founder Prakash Ambedkar and several Dalit, Left and progressive organisations - was felt across the state, including Mumbai.

The bandh was called off around 4 pm.

When asked about the response to the bandh, Ambedkar said: "We have called for a peaceful bandh. The bandh has passed off peacefully..it is now for the chief minister to act."

Ambedkar reiterated his demand for arresting leaders of right-wing organisations Sambaji Bhide Guruji and Milind Ekbote for the violence and the death of a youth, Rahul Fatangale (28), in Bhima Koregaon in Pune.

Traffic hit

There were series of blockades on the Eastern Express Highway and the Western Express Highway in Mumbai.

Protests also affected the suburban rail transportation system of the Central Railway and Western Railway.

At least 16 departures and 16 arrivals were affected at the Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport.

The airport management provided BEST buses to ferry passengers to the nearest railway station in the absence of taxis and autos.

Across Maharashtra, hundreds of state transport buses, private buses and four-wheelers were targeted. Some vehicles were torched as well.

"We are looking into CCTV footages from various places and no one will be spared," a senior police officer said.