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VHP activists squat on tracks to protest Godhra killings

Suburban trains were stopped at Kalyan on the Central Railway and Govandi on the Harbour Line and at Grant Road, Dahisar and Malad on the Western Railway on Friday morning as part of the nationwide bandh call given by the VHP to protest against the killing of 58 persons at Godhra.

Railway police and local police immediately rushed to the spot and dispersed the crowd. Trains are running late by 15 to 20 minutes.

A Western Railway official said that additional deployment has been made along the tracks to thwart any attempt to obstruct the movement of suburban trains.

Between Kandivli and Borivali stations, agitators placed sleepers on the tracks to obstruct the movement of trains while stone pelting was reported near Dahisar. "However, trains are being run, though behind schedule," he said.

Derailment of two wheels of a ladies special train near Borivali compounded the problem. The trains are being diverted from other tracks and the train is being re-railed, sources said here.

Stone pelting on Brihanmumbai Electric Supply and Transport Undertaking (BEST) buses were reported in Charkop Naka, Maharashtra Nagar in Bhandup, Air Colony at Kalina, Pilabangla in Dharavi, Sion railway station and Sion hospital.

A senior BEST official said that tyres of buses were deflated in Borivali and some of the buses were heavily stoned.

Windscreen and window panes of as many as four buses were badly damaged, the official said adding that they have stopped plying buses on three routes and would further suspend services if it was found that it involved risks of buses been stoned or damaged.

Majority of the schools and colleges in Mumbai and Thane remained closed. The class X and class XII board exams scheduled for Friday has been postponed to March 18 and 16 respectively, according to chairman of the state education board (Mumbai division) Rajan Faranskar.

The agriculture produce commodities market at Turbhe was closed as very few people came to work. Attendance at government and private sector offices was slim while several industries at the Thane-Belapur belt were closed.

Senior police officers reviewed the security arrangements in Mumbai and other places in Maharashtra.

Terming the bandh as successful, VHP joint secretary Mohan Salekar said that reports from other parts of the state indicate that the bandh was near total and a success.

UNI

EARLIER REPORT:
Bandh begins on a calm note

The Sabarmati in Flames: Complete Coverage

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