Sethu Samudram issue: Sangh parivar stages road blockade

MUMBAI: Protesting the government's decision to go ahead with the Sethu Samudram project, Sangh parivar and its affiliated organisations on Wednesday staged road blockades at various places in the metropolis.

Workers from the RSS, VHP, Bajrang Dal and BJP blocked various roads across the city, police said.

Traffic movement at 23 busy spots in the city including important junctions on the S V Road in north-west Mumbai, Saki Naka and Turbhe Naka, was blocked by the protestors causing inconvenience to commuters, they added.

"We have started detaining the protestors and are in the process of clearing the spots for smooth traffic movement," a police official said.

The Sethu Samudram Ship Canal project aims at creating an artificial canal in the shallow ocean, by dredging parts of Ram Setu, to enable vessels to save on time taken to circumnavigate the Sri Lankan island while going from west to east.

According to the epic Ramayana, Ram Setu is a bridge constructed by Lord Ram connecting the Indian peninsula with mainland Sri Lanka.

Meanwhile, four people have been taken into custody from Indore station, when they tried to disrupt the train services.

About 15-20 people entered the Indore railway station and tried to disrupt the movement of train, Additional Superintendent of Police Manoj Srivastav said, adding four people have been take into custody while others managed to escape.