Pune bandh turns violent, Sena, BJP, MNS workers held

Stray incidents of violence have been reported during the Shiv Sena-BJP sponsored bandh against the Pune Municipal Corporation decision to remove the statue of Dadoji Konddev from historic Lal Mahal.

According to police, protesters damaged 30 buses of Pune Municipal Transport, but shops and business establishments remained open in most parts of the city. Raj Thackeray led MNS had supported the bandh.

Police said over 150 Sena-BJP and MNS activisits were arrested for damaging public property. Adequate police personnel were deployed in the city and adjoining areas to avoid untoward incidents during the bandh.

Shiv Sena and MNS have demanded that the statue be reinstalled at Lal Mahal. BJP hit out at Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, who, the party alleged, was the man behind the PMC move to remove statue.

Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan has said that it was the decision of the city municpal corporation and he had nothing to do with it.