Pulwama Attack: Spontaneous protests erupt in Mumbai

Spontaneous anti-Pakistan protests sparked off in Mumbai's far western suburbs on Saturday leading to disruption of suburban services.

The epicentre of protests was the Nalasopara station on the Western Railway.

Nalasopara falls on the New Delhi-Mumbai route and is one of the busiest and critical rail corridor.

Shops and establishments also downed their shutters in Vasai, Nalasopara and Virar townships of Palghar district.

Angry and agitated over the Pulwama terror attack, protesters squatted or stood on tracks and raised slogans like "Pakistan hai hai" and "Pakistan murdabad."

"Bharat mata ki jai" and "Vande mataram" also rent the air.

Commuters were seen walking along the tracks on the Vasai-Virar stretch.

Teams from Government Railway Police (GRP) and Railway Protection Force (RPF) spoke to protesters but to no avail.

The Palghar district police also urged the protesters to stay calm and clear the tracks.

After nearly three hours of protest, police resorted to a cane-charge and cleared the crowd.

Because of train disruption, there was heavy traffic on the Mumbai-Ahmedabad highway, Western-Express highway and Ghodbunder road.

Some of the buses of Vasai Virar City Municipal Corporation were stopped from plying and autos went off roads.

Daily commuters and the police machinery were completely caught unawares.