Thane, Apr 18: A day-long Thane and Mumbra bandh call given by NCP, Congress, Shiv Sena and BJP to protest demolition drive turned violent today as political activists smashed seven buses and two taxis to enforce the strike.
All autos and Thane Municipal corporation buses have stopped plying in Thane city, and most of the commercial establishments are closed.
Raj Thackeray's Maharashtra Navnirman Sena is not participating in this bandh, which has been called to protest demolition of illegal structures by Thane Municipal Corporation.
The political parties have demanded that the tenants living in these structures be rehabilitated first and then the demolition drive be started.
The demolition drive has begun in the wake of the recent seven-storeyed building collapse in which 74 peoples lost their lives, and two builders and other officials were arrested.
Media reports highlighted how local political leaders openly vied to give undue benefits to unscrupulous builders to carry on with their illegal constructions
