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Mumbai suburbs remain tense

MUMBAI: Parts of the eastern suburbs of Mumbai and adjacent Thane city continued to be tense following the death of Buddhist monk Bhadant Saghraj Thairo, 75, even as the police registered the locals’ complaint of murder and called for a second autopsy.

Bhadant Thairo of the Sandesh Buddh Vihar in the Deonar area of northeastern suburb of Gowandi was found dead in his house on Sunday morning.

The police first took the death as a case of suicide. But the incident triggered violent protests, particularly from the neo-Buddhist Dalit community, which alleged that it was a case of murder and blamed a builder.

The builder wanted to develop a plot but Bhadant Thairo obtained court stay, it was alleged. Acting Police Commissioner Vijay Kamble said the murder complaint was registered and the matter was being investigated. The Dalit neighbourhoods, however, remained tense and some monks of the Mumbai Pradesh Bhikhu Sangh staged a dharna near the Buddhist Vihar. There were sporadic incidents of arson and stone-throwing.

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Mumbai suburbs remain tense

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