Bhima-Koregaon row: Prakash Ambedkar calls for Maharashtra strike to be withdrawn

Activist and grandson of BR Ambedkar, Prakash Ambedkar called the Maharashtra strike to be withdrawn on Wednesday even as it turned ugly in several areas in the state.

Prakash Ambedkar while calling off the agitation accused the government of "cover-up", saying: Government has tried to cover-up activities of the accused Milind Ekbote of Samast Hindu Aghadi and Sambhaji Bhide of Shiv Pratishthan Hindustan," adding that they "orchestrated the violence."

"The should be booked under the same charges as Yakub Menon, Section 302," Ambedkar said.

The strike in Maharashtra took an ugly turn today with protesters ransacking cars in Mumbai and several incidents of violence reported across Maharashtra.

Protesters targeted cars in Ghatkopar area on the Vikhroli road. Reports said protesters ransacked parked cars. There were also reports of buses being pelted and tyres deflated.

Railways across Maharashtra was disrupted leaving commuters in major stations stranded.

Train services on Central Railway's mainline towards CSMT was affected delaying thousands of office-goers even as the state government made arrangement for heavy security with policeman manning strategic areas.

A railway police official at Ghatkopar told PTI, "Many protestors have come from distant places and gathered at Ghatkopar to make their bandh a success. We are persuading them to not stall trains."