Following a BJP corporator going missing, activists of the saffron combine of Shiv Sena-BJP brought the city to a standstill.
Following a BJP corporator going missing days ahead of mayoral elections in the Thane municipal corporation, activists of the saffron combine of Shiv Sena-BJP brought the city to a standstill on Sunday.
Trouble began after BJP senior leader Sandeep Lele filed an FIR against NCP MLA Jitendra Awhad, alleging that he was responsible for the Lokhande’s kidnap. Following this, three Sena MLAs — Pratap Sarnaik, Eknath Shinde and Rajan Vichare — personally visited prominent places in the city on Sunday morning to announce the bandh and force shopkeepers to keep their shops shut.
The stir took a violent turn when Sainiks damaged nearly 10 Thane Municipal Transport buses, four state transport buses and five rickshaws. Also, places like Anand Nagar, Mulund check-naka, Naupada as well as Thane railway station area witnessed incidents like tyre-burning and forcing auto-rickshaws off the roads. At least 51 sainiks were arrested by the Naupada police for throwing normal life out of gear.
It is alleged that Lokhande has gone missing owing to the political pressure by NCP-Congress alliance is putting on her to support them on the day of mayor’s election on March 6. Though she spoke on a television channel, telling how she was safe and not under any political pressure, the saffron alliance doubted if it was she speaking on the televison. Lele, who was sure about NCP hand behind the abduction, said, “I don’t think its her voice. NCP has been pressuring our corporator to seek her support and hence she has been missing since February 24.”
Refuting all charges as false, Awhad charged the Shiv Sena of hounding the NCP since December. Stating that the corporator had gone missing due to the internal squabbles in the Sena-BJP combine, Ahwad said, “It is political immaturity to doubt their own members, while their internal fights have given rise to instability.”
Meanwhile, the saffron alliance made it clear that although the bandh would be called off by Sunday evening, their agitation would continue until Lokhande was back with her family.
While inspector R Shirtode of Naupada Police confirmed that investigation was on in the FIR filed against Awhad, municipal commisioner RA Rajeev said all the essential services of the civic body were working on the day. “The cost of the damage caused by the bandh will be recovered from the parties concerned, as per the high court order,” added Rajeev.
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
)
)
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}