Nashik bandh passes off peacefully

NASHIK: The Maratha Kranti Morcha bandh passed off peacefully in Nashik district, though the MSRTC’s bus services from Nashik to other parts of the state and within the city were severely impacted.
Many educational institutes in the city remained closed, while shops and commercial establishments had opened their outlets in the morning but downed the shutters after stone pelting incidents in Nashik Road area.
A section of the bandh supporters pelted stones at two shops and an ATM kiosk in Bytco chowk area of Nashik Road after 11.30am.
Deputy police commissioner Srikrishna Kokate said they detained over a dozen protesters, who were forcibly trying to close shops from Nashik Road area. “We have got reports of two stone pelting incidents in Nashik Road,” he added.
In Deolaligaon area, protesters burnt tyres as a mark of protest. Various groups took out rallies demanding quota for government jobs and education for the Maratha community. They were critical of chief minister Devendra Fadnavis for not taking the issue seriously.
Many of these groups converged at Ravivar Karanja and then marched to the statue of Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar near central bus stand. Another group from Old City joined them and went to the busy Shalimar forcing the shops and commercial establishments to shut down.
Nashik rural superintendent of police Sanjay Darade said nine persons were detained on their way to Gangapur dam. The police did not want to take any chances after a man jumped into the Godavari and lost his life in Aurangabad two days back.
“The bandh was peaceful in the district. In Niphad taluka, the protesters staged a peaceful rasta roko, which was later withdrawn,” added Darade.
Nashik based state coordinator of Maratha Kranti Morcha, Ganesh Kadam, said the agitation in Nashik was peaceful, barring a few incidents. “We had called for peaceful agitation across the district. We got good support from people from all quarters of the society. There were few unfortunate incidents, which were not expected,” said Kadam.
The activists would stage indefinite agitation outside the district collectorate from Thursday. The Manmad unit of the Morcha has again called a bandh in Manmad on Thursday.