The city police, who failed to maintain law and order during Tuesday's Dalit stir, spurred into action to reinforce security on Wednesday, when a statewide bandh called by Dalit leader Prakash Ambedkar comes into effect.
Even after the police were informed about the agitation in the area on Tuesday, the mob went rampaging on the roads, bringing traffic to a standstill on the Eastern Express Highway for almost six hours. The protesters pelted stones at police, BEST and private vehicles, damaging as many as 75 of them, and burned down police barricades on the highway, adding to the traffic chaos.
According to police sources, to control the chaos, senior police officers held a meeting in the evening to prepare an action plan for Wednesday. They have enforced preventive measures and launched a combing operation for suspected troublemankers to avoid untoward incidents.
"Police deployment will be there at all strategic locations. Reserve police force has been called in for maintaining law and order in the city. Apart from that, regular nakabandi will also be in place. A combing operation to crack down on the miscreants has been initiated. Riot control force has been kept for backup. Action will be taken against everyone who breaks the law," said Sachin Patil, Mumbai police Spokesperson.
"There are several sensitive and strategic locations where we are deploying additional police force. Cases are being registered at different police stations. We are taking all kinds of measures for Wednesday," said Lakhmi Goutam, Additional Commissioner Police, (Eastern Region).
Mumbai Traffic police is taking precautionary measures to ensure smooth flow of traffic. "All traffic personnel will be on their toes to ensure smooth flow of traffic, especially on the Eastern Express Highway," said a police officer.
