Citizen reports: Violence seemed planned

In Thane, Mulund, Ulhasnagar the riots turned very violent and it seems to be stage managed. This is because everything was done systematically, including stoning burning buses. Everything was planned.

The government must probe this through CBI.

Ramesh Patil, Mumbai

As I was passing by on MG Road, I saw some protestors forcefully telling the shop owners to close down. They are even abusing people passing by, in fact police are standing there and watching this all. They even blocked MG Road.

Rajit Ashok Gosavi, Pune

I stay near Kharki, Pune. Yesterday night, while returning from work (around 8PM), I saw deserted Aundh road, which normally is bursting with activity in the evenings.

There were police patrolling also which made me cautious, and I got a feeling that "something" has happened.

This morning I read the newspaper and found out the reason.

I can only say that, clearly, the teachings of Ambedkar have not touched people. We worship and forget him at the same time. Strange!!

Ambarish Mitra, Pune

In Airoli MIDC area in the morning @11am, people from nearby villages started pelting stones first then stopped vehicle movement on Thane Belapur highway. Then interestingly they instigated the small boys who started smashing windows and headlights of parked trucks and others vehicles and were enjoying every bit of it. They even started throwing stones at nearby office buildings and broke window panes. Policemen standing there were only mere spectators.

Ananda, MIDC, Airoli

Rear window of my friend's car has been broken by the passing mob at  Bhandup (LBS Marg).

Ashutosh Dalmia, Mumbai

On 29/11/06 mob really damage the cars by burning 4 Maruti cars one Tata Canter burning between divider while burning one Kinetic Honda near Thermax Chowk also throwing stones in the society breaking the glasses of windows also the damage the Hotel Parihar near Kasturi Market. The scene was really devastating second shift people have to stay in company while some have to really try hard to return home. Also on Movember 30 all the people started a rally again by burning one truck and throwing stones on shops moving towards Chinchwad

Sanjay Jaiswal, Pune

Nothing much at Shivajinagar, Fergusson College Road, University Road and ITI Road at Aundh. Life as usual.

NPI Sharoty, Pune

In morning at around 6:45 am my mom gave me call from her office at Mulund, that the situation at Mulund is out of control and tell your sister come back to home as she went to her college.

I had tried to reach her mobile but it was off because she might have switched off mobile. Then I took my bike and went to her college but on the way near Kopri bridge which joins Thane East and Thane West near Eastern Express Highway I found an angry mob closed down that bridge around 7:45 am morning, I somehow found safe passage and get into Thane west then road is clear till Pach Pakhadi. I wait at her college since her principal says college will leave at 9:30 am. I picked her and came back from same road but till then situation became worse and I found there were protestors with flags doing narebazi on bridge. So, I took path alongside to highway and enter into Bara Banglow's back side from Shri Maa Balniketan High School and I reached home around 10:15 am at Mithbunder - Thane East.

I also found some youths roamming on bikes telling shopkeeper to close their shops.

Till noon all environment on Thane East turns like curfew but I think there is no curfew in Thane East.

It is expected that till evening situation will come on track.

Deven R D, Thane

I have seen a real protest of Dalits in Pune. People are just going crazy. My friend's car was attacked with stones at Pimpri. He was driving towards Aund and on his way people started throwing stones on his car. He left his car there. All shops are closed.

Mansi Jain, Pune

On 29/11/2006 at 8.45pm, I was travelling in ST bus towards Bhayander some of the people in Ghodbunder Road in Thane highway came and threw stones on the bus and 1 girl and 2 men were injured.

Paresh Balsara, Ghodbunder (Thane)

Ambedkar issue went on high in Pimpri, Chichwad and Nigdi areas of Pune district. Violent mob burnt many cars, PMT buses, two-wheelers and broke glasses of vehicles too. The protestors were seen on road carrying flags and stones in their hands. Situation felt tense as shops remained closed and schools in these areas too got closed.

Kirti Lad, Pradhikaran, Nigdi, Pune

Today I saw a different kind of protest in Latur. Off course there were some stone pelting  incidents today but it all was spontaneous. And the main thing I noticed was the absence of Dalit Leaders from the scene. There was not a single leader with these protests, they all became leaders today. Some people told me that they sent away the so called leaders as they feel that Dalit people are being taken for a ride or used only to satiate the need of these leaders. One protesting youth even said that their leaders are good for nothing and its all Laddhai ke din khade (Being absent on the day of war!). Overall in Latur there were some incidents of stone pelting and damaging of around 25 vehicle but it was peaceful in most parts of the city.

Yogesh Sapkale, Latur, Maharashtra