Bandh impact in Pune is likely to cede in the next few hours. Bus services in the city are currently terminated as the demonstrators turned violent in several parts. Meanwhile, the transportation services are functioning as per routine in other parts of Maharashtra.
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Maharashtra Bandh Today News Updates: Internet, Bus Services Suspended in Pune
The pan-Maharashtra bandh will be observed from 8 am to 6 pm on Thursday. Schools, colleges and several commercials in Pune will remain closed as a precautionary measure.
09 Aug, 17:59 (IST)
Internet and bus services have been suspended in Pune as the demonstrators in several parts of the city turned violent. Shops and private establishments were pelted with stones and bikes were set ablaze at some places. The mobile internet services have been cut off to prevent mobilisation of the agitators. The administration has also asked petrol pumps to close down their operations.
09 Aug, 17:12 (IST)
According to reports, a police vehicle was damaged during violent protests in Pune's Chandni Chowk and four policemen were injured in stone pelting.
09 Aug, 16:23 (IST)
Police have resorted to lathicharge in Pune's Chandni Chowk as protests turned violent.
09 Aug, 15:15 (IST)
According to reports, protesters entered the office of an IT company in Pune's Hinjawadi and forced employees to vacate the office.
09 Aug, 15:10 (IST)
Maratha protesters get their heads tonsured on the streets in Beed during Maharashtra bandh.
09 Aug, 14:46 (IST)
Reports say the protestors outside Pune district collector's office also attacked media persons present at the spot.
09 Aug, 14:09 (IST)
Protestors outside Pune district collector's office reportedly threw slippers at the policemen who have been posted at the gate.
09 Aug, 13:55 (IST)
According to reports, protesters vandalised a PMT bus in Pune during the bandh.
09 Aug, 13:54 (IST)
Protesters block Kurla-Coimbatore Express in Lonavala during Maratha Krantoi Morcha protest.
09 Aug, 13:39 (IST)
Protesters in Mumbai cover their eyes and mouth with black ribbons during protest demanding reservation for Marathas.
09 Aug, 13:22 (IST)
A protester in Pune climbed a mobile tower to hoist the Maratha flag.
09 Aug, 13:18 (IST)
Markets and offices in Jalgaon are also shut due to the Bandh called by Maratha groups. Meanwhile, in Mumbai, the Parel bus depot is reportedly shut.
09 Aug, 13:12 (IST)
Traffic has been disrupted in several parts of Pune, Latur and Aurangabad as protesters have blocked roads. Mumbai roads are clear, there have been no reports of any disruption so far.
09 Aug, 13:02 (IST)
Protesters have gathered outside the Pune Municipal Corporation building and are carrying out a bike rally, shouting slogans there.
09 Aug, 12:56 (IST)
Markets and schools in Navi Mumbai are shut due to the bandh call by Maratha outfits.
09 Aug, 12:51 (IST)
Fresh reports coming in of stone pelting in Latur. Reports say protesters pelted stones on the car of Latur Congress MLA Trimbak Bhise and have broken the glass of the window.
09 Aug, 12:45 (IST)
There are reports of stone pelting outside Syntel office in Pune. Reports by a Hindustan Times reporter say protesters have pelted stones on the windows of the office, damaging them.
09 Aug, 12:43 (IST)
Shops in Dadar have started opening after all was normal since morning in Mumbai.
Mumbai, August 9: The Maratha outfits have called for a state-wide bandh in Maharashtra today seeking reservation for the community in jobs and education. The call for the day-long bandh was taken after members of the Maratha Kranti Morcha (MKM) held a meeting in Aurangabad on Wednesday and reached a consensus to take their agitation forward on Thursday. The pan-Maharashtra bandh will be observed from 8 am to 6 pm.
Schools, colleges and several commercials in Pune will remain closed as a precautionary measure. In view of the bandh, a majority of the commercial units in the Chakan industrial area have also decided to remain closed tomorrow. In the wake of the protest, roads are likely to be blocked as the protestors would observe a sit-in protest at may places while traffic is likely to take a hit.
Reports inform that the protesting outfits have instructed their workers not to damage public properties and observe peaceful protest across the state. According to reports, a sit-in agitation will be held at outside the office of the Mumbai suburban collector in Bandra (East) while Thane and Navi Mumbai areas will be exempted from the protest this time.
The Maratha Kranti Morcha, which is spearheading the agitation for reservation in jobs and education, has called for the shutdown in Maharashtra. Meanwhile, the Sakal Maratha Samaj, an umbrella body of all the Maratha outfits has announced peaceful protests in Mumbai.
On July 30, Morcha leader Vinod Pokharkar said, "We will hold a mega rally in Mumbai on August 9, August Kranti Din. We want to show our strength and endurance to the government". Quotas for Marathas, a politically influential community that constitutes around 30 per cent of the state's population, has been a hugely contentious issue. In the past two years, the Maratha Kranti Morcha has held 58 mook morchas (silent protests) across the state in the wake of rape and murder of a girl in Kopardi in Ahmednagar.
(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Aug 09, 2018 07:03 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).