Mumbai crippled as Dalit protesters take to streets

A statewide strike was called by several Dalit groups on Wednesday following the death of a 28-year-old in Pune district during an altercation between two groups while celebrating the bicentenary of a British-Peshwa war. (Photo: Rajesh Jadhav/ Shripad Naik/ Mrugesh Bandiwadekar/ Deepak Kurkunde)

Mumbai police men stand guard during a strike called by Dalit groups in Mumbai, A state wide strike was called by several Dalit groups on Wednesday following the death of a 28-year-old in Pune district during an altercation between two groups during celebrations to mark the bicentenary of a British-Peshwa war. (Photo: Rajesh Jadhav)

Boys carry a flag while riding a bicycle across a deserted road after Dalits called for Maharashtra Bandh as a protest over Bhima Koregaon violence, in Mumbai on Wednesday. (Photo: Rajesh Jadhav)

The dalit activists held rasta roko at Ghatkopar LBS road Women, children are also part of the protest. (Photo: Rajesh Jadhav)

The protesters blocked main roads, bringing traffic and the entire city to a standstill. (Photo: Rajesh Jadhav)

The activists even disrupted railways at various stations. At Ghatkopar, in the afternoon, the activists got down on the track and stopped the railway services. (Photo: Rajesh Jadhav)

The Dalit activists held rasta roko at Ramabai Nagar in Ghatkopar. Women, children are also part of the protest, that for the most part, was conducted peacefully. (Photo: Rajesh Jadhav)

Motor bikes, cars and private buses were vandalised at Vikroli LBS road during the one day bandh called by the Dalit activists. (Photo: Rajesh Jadhav)

The Dalit activists held rasta roko at Kalwa Naka in Thane sa well. Women and children were also part of the protest which though conducted peacefully, left its mark on the city, crippling it for a day. (Photo: Deepak Kurkunde)

Police officials were seen trying to calm the trying crowd as Dalit protesters took to the streets crippling city life for a day. (Photo: Deepak Kurkunde)

A protester can be seen shouting slogans at a congregation. The Dalit activists held rasta roko at Kalwa Naka in Thane sa well. Women and children were also part of the protest which though conducted peacefully, left its mark on the city, crippling it for a day. (Photo: Deepak Kurkunde)

The activists disrupted railways at various stations. In the morning the activists got down on the track at Thane and stopped railway services. (Photo: Deepak Kurkunde)

The activists disrupted railways at various stations. In the morning the activists got down on the track at Thane and stopped railway services. Hordes of protesters stood in front of local trains and shouted slogans, in the process disrupting rail services for Mumbai. (Photo: Deepak Kurkunde)

Crowd pelted stone at residences in Lokmanya Nagar, Vikhroli (West) and broke down private vehicles during a state wide shutdown called by various Dalit parties. The shutdown was called as a reaction to Monday’s riots in Bhima-Koregaon, Pune while celebrating the 200th anniversary of the Anglo-Maratha War of January 1, 1818. (Photo: Shripad Naik)

Pankaj Singh, a businessman was beaten up by a crowd belonging to Dalit community at Lokmanya Nagar, in Vikhroli (West) during a state wide shutdown called by various Dalit parties on Wednesday January 3, 2018 in Mumbai. (Photo: Shripad Naik)

Due to the bandh, common people stayed away from jobs and remained at home. Even the otherwise crowded Eastern Express Highway was empty. (Photo: Rajesh Jadhav)

The Republican Party of India (RPI) held a rasta roko at Dahisar toll naka on the western express highway, causing a traffic jam at Mumbai. (Photo: Mrugesh Bandiwadekar)