Shiv Sena's Pune bandh: protesters damage eight buses
The Sena-BJP alliance had called for the bandh today after the NCP-Congress-ruled Pune Municipal Corporation removed a statue of Dadoji Konddeo from Lal Mahal yesterday.
Eight city buses were damaged by agitators as the Pune bandh called by the Shiv Sena and the BJP to protest against the removal of a statue of Dadoji Konddeo, a historical figure, started on a violent note.
The saffron alliance had called for a bandh today after the NCP-Congress-ruled Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) removed Konddeo's statue from Lal Mahal yesterday, pursuant to a resolution adopted by the civic body to that effect.
The decision followed a persistent demand from a pro-Maratha outfit called the Sambhaji Brigade, widely believed by many to be a front of the NCP.
The agitators also tried to disrupt rail traffic at Lonavala on the Mumbai-Pune section of the Central Railway, a source said.
The police, who have stepped up security measures in the city and district, detained some Sena workers as preventive measure.