Maratha agitation aftermath: Internet services suspended in Navi Mumbai

Internet services in the neighbouring Navi Mumbai township were suspended on Thursday morning, hours after the protests by Maratha groups turned violent.

“As per directive received from the Government, data services are stopped at few locations. As a result of this you are not able to use the data services,” Vodafone said.

A similar message was relayed to affected customers by other telecom providers.

“As per the government instructions, data and SMS service has been temporarily stopped in your area (Navi Mumbai) because of which you are not able to use the service. You will be able to use Internet service by at the earliest,” said an official update from Jio.

The decision to suspend internet services was taken in the wake of the situation in areas like Koparkhairne, which witnessed violence during the Maratha quota agitation yesterday.

The situation in Koparkhairne was still tense, an official said.

Last evening, the police had lobbed teargas shells and used baton-charge in Koparkhairane area after a group of protesters stoned vehicles, clashed with local people and indulged in arson.

Miscreants had also set fire to a police outpost.

The incidents took place after the Maratha organisations, seeking reservations in government jobs and education, had called off the bandh.

A group of protesters who were returning home last night had hurled stones at vehicles of local people in Koparkhairane, a police official earlier said.

Later, some members of local communities had gathered at the spot and clashed with protesters, he said.

The mob then hurled stones in which some offices and shops were damaged. They also set fire to a police chowky (outpost) near D-Mart supermarket in sector 6.

Five to six cars and over a dozen two-wheelers parked in front of the chowky were also vandalised and torched. A hotel was set on fire in sector 3.