Mumbai Bagh protesters block traffic for six hours – Times of India

MUMBAI: An alleged scuffle between police and protesters at Mumbai Bagh early on Friday led to the latter blocking traffic in Nagpada junction for six hours during the day. A sit-in protest against NRC-CAA-NPR has been on at Nagpada since January 25.
Some locals said police in the early hours tried to remove polythene sheets used by protesters. A group of women agitated and the cops reportedly left. They again arrived at dawn when most of the women had gone home to fill water tanks. This led to unrest among the remaining protesters. Some locals alleged that police beat them. A few women were taken to hospital but no major injuries were found, said a local.
Later, from 3pm onwards, a mob gathered blocking traffic and demanding the suspension of senior inspector Shalini Sharma of Nagapada police station. The mob started to disperse around 9pm when some women from Mumbai Bagh arrived and requested that the road be cleared.
Sensing the tense situation at Nagapada junction, two addtional police commissioners, four zonal deputy police commissioners, and additional personnel were called in to maintain law and order. Additional police commissioner S Veeresh Prabhu assured the mob that an inquiry would be done. Religious leaders too addressed the mob, but the protestors refused to budge, demanding Sharma’s suspension. The blocked road was cleared only for ambulances and for offering Namaz.
Zonal DCP Abhinash Kumar told TOI, “We have set up an inquiry.” A senior officer said Sharma has been asked not to handle Mumbai Bagh till the inquiry is over. Jams were reported in all directions till Mahalaxmi and Grant Road. “Additional police personnel were deployed to guide motorists. Congestion was also reported at Jacob Circle and Saat Rasta. I was stuck at Jacob Circle for half an hour,” tweeted Pratap Padode, a motorist. Dr AR Nair Marg at Mumbai Central also saw snarl-ups for an hour.
(Inputs by Nitasha Natu)