Maharashtra bandh: Internet services suspended amid protests in Pune

Internet services were suspended in Maharashtra's Pune district on Thursday to prevent rumour-mongering in view of the Maratha quota agitation, police said.

Superintendent of Police (SP) Sandip Patil told PTI the Internet services were temporarily suspended in Baramati, Shirur, Khed, Junnar, Maval, Bhor and Daund rural tehsils of the district.

The step was taken to prevent any untoward incident after violent protests were witnessed during the Maratha community's protest for the reservation last month, he said.

Chakan, an industrial hub located in Khed tehsil, witnessed large-scale violence during the Maratha quota agitation on July 30, when around 70 buses were torched and damaged in the area.

Patil said there was no information of any untoward incident in the district so far.

Maharashtra caste clashes: Mumbai school buses to stay off roads today

School buses will stay off roads in Mumbai tomorrow in view of a Maharashtra bandh called by Dalit outfits to protest the violent clashes in Pune yesterday.

The School Bus Owners' Association (SBOA) on Tuesday said it would not operate its fleet of 40,000 buses on Wednesday

Anil Garg, president of SBOA, told PTI, "For security reasons, we have decided not to ply our buses in the first shift today. If the situation remains peaceful, we will run the buses in the second shift."

However, if a particular bus owner wanted to operate his services tomorrow, it would be his call, he added.

"Law-and-order is beyond our control. Therefore, we cannot take the risk," Garg said.

The state government has said schools will remain open today.

Dalit organisations have called a Maharashtra bandh tomorrow to protest against the BJP-led state government's "failure" to stop the violence in Pune.

Clashes between Dalit groups and supporters of right-wing Hindu organisations during the 200th anniversary celebrations of the Bhima-Koregaon battle in Pune district had left a man dead on Monday.
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