Rumours run rife in Bombay

Bombay witnessed stray incidents of stone throwing, downed shutters and a temporary suspension of the Central and Harbour train services as a result of the statewide bandh announced by the Opposition parties.

Though Bombay was exempted from the bandh, certain areas of the city observed the bandh fearing violent incidents. The northern suburbs of Chembur, Goregaon and Bandra Kherwadi witnessed sporadic incidents of stone throwing in dalit-dominated pockets.

However, the city was flooded with wanton rumours like the desecration of the famous Shivaji statue at Shivaji Park by a dalit mob, the killing of Chhagan Bhujbal, the Congress leader and Shiv Sena renegade and a Bharat bandh call on Wednesday. Many panic-stricken people left their offices early and schools and colleges were closed as a precautionary measure.

In an attempt to contain the rumours, Bombay Police Commissioner Subhash Malhotra appealed for calm in a mid-afternoon television broadcast, urging citizens not to believe such rumours.

After Bhujbal's home was ransacked by Shiv Sainiks on Sunday, a police picket along with Rapid Action Force troops was deployed near his official residence.

The state assembly was adjourned with the Opposition demanding the state government's resignation for its failure to maintain law and order.

Earlier in the day, Maharashtra’s Deputy Chief Minister and Home Minister Gopinath Munde dismissed allegations that hundreds of Shiv Sainiks were planning to attack Bhujbal’s home again. "The police and the RAF have been deployed to ensure Mr Bhujbal’s safety," said Munde.

Meanwhile, Shiv Sena supremo Bal Thackeray sounded conciliatory in an appeal to the dalit community in Saamna, the party's daily newspaper. "We are of one blood and let us maintain law and order. Enough is enough," Thackeray said.

Train services on the Central and Harbour routes were disrupted as motormen refused to go beyond Ghatkopar where the police shot dead 10 dalits on July 11, and pass through other dalit-dominated areas. Train services were resumed only on Monday evening.