Vidarbha bandh sees mixed response

 The bandh, timed to coincide with the first day of the winter session of the state legislature, was described as largely peaceful by the police. The police was on high alert throughout the day and VRP activists were picked up early in the morning.

 The bandh was near total in Nagpur where Purohit himself along with party workers took to the streets requesting the trade to cooperate and make it successful.

 The wholesale markets in entire Vidarbha remained closed and even the Agriculture Produce Marketing Committee run Kalamna Market Yard did not transact any business.

 The retail trade though remained open in certain pockets. All educational institutions also remained closed in Nagpur as the autorickshaw union too participated in the bandh.

 Reports from mofussil places in Vidarbha said that the bandh received good response in Chandrapur, Gadchiroli, Gondia, Yavatmal, Karanja, Wani, Koradi, Malegaon, Khaparkheda and Pusad. It was partial at Wardha, Amravati, Bhandara, Akola and Tumsar.

 Addressing a press conference late in the evening Purohit claimed that the bandh was a total success. It demonstrated the will of the people of Vidarbha to secede from Maharashtra, he said.

 He said that over 850 activists of VRP were detained by the police and one arrested at Nagpur. Many of these activists were district level convenors and their supporters, Purohit said.

 The call for the bandh was supported by the apex bodies of the trade and industry in the region.