MOB FURY: The Pune-Mumbai Deccan Queen in flames after it was set ablaze by protesters near Ulhasnagar in Thane district of Maharashtra onThursday. — Photo: AP

MUMBAI: Violent protests by Dalits on Thursday in Maharashtra, over the desecration of an Ambedkar statue in Kanpur, left four persons dead and many injured many. Throughout the day, mobs burnt trains and buses and threw stones, even as the police tried to bring the situation under control, calling in more forces and imposing curfew.

In the morning, a group of protesters stopped the Deccan Queen, the train that runs between Pune and Mumbai, at Ulhasnagar as it approached the city. Passengers were asked to get down, and five coaches were set afire. This led to the disruption of services on the long distance line for several hours.

Later in the day, another group set fire to a coach of a local suburban train. Services on the local and long distance line were restored by evening.

Railway staff attacked

Director-General of Police P.S. Pasricha told reporters that a mob of over 7,000, trying to disrupt services, attacked railway installations and beat up the staff there.

Police opened fire in the air at Bandra in Mumbai and at Mukundwadi and Naregaon in Aurangabad. Six buses were set on fire in the northern suburb of Mulund in Mumbai. The worst arson took place at Pimpri-Chinchwad near Pune. In all, about 100 buses were damaged.

Two police station areas of Nanded, Pimpri-Chinchwad and Osmanabad were put under curfew till Friday morning.

Dr. Pasricha said that about 50 persons and as many policemen were injured in stone throwing and lathicharge. About 2,000 persons, including over 400 in Mumbai, have been arrested.

Both the DGP and Maharashtra Home Minister R.R. Patil would not hazard a guess about the causes of the sudden violence.

They said the State intelligence was asked to find the reasons and the police would investigate the matter.

Mr. Patil said Dr. Ambedkar was widely revered in Maharashtra. Therefore, nobody in the State would tolerate the desecration of his statue.

Media criticised

Both criticised the electronic media for repeatedly showing Wednesday's Kanpur incident on television. This fanned the anger, they charged.

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