Mumbai (Maharashtra) [India], Jan 5 (NT): A scores of 286 Bombay Electric Supply and Transport (BEST) buses were smashed up in two days -January 2 and 3- in different parts of Maharashtra, throughout protests in opposition to violence over the bicentennial celebration of the Bhima-Koregaon clashes.

The stone-pelting at the buses have cost harm of worth Rs 20, 51,760, informed the talking head of BEST.

The death of a youth in the conflicts that broke out between Dalits and alleged right-wing outfits over the celebration near Pune prompted violent protests across Maharashtra, in which cases of damage of vehicles were reported in various areas, together with Aurangabad, Pune and Nagpur.

Other unpleasant incidents like road and railway blockage, and fire-starting also took place on the day of statewide shutdown called by Bharipa Bahujan Mahasangh (BBM) leader and grandson of B.R. Ambedkar, Prakash Ambedkar on January 3.

A total of 16 FIRs were lodged by the Mumbai Police linking to statewide bandh.

The violence insigated on January 1 when the right-wing groups were objecting to the celebration of 'Victory Day' on the 200th anniversary of Bhima-Koregaon clashes since they measured it to be an anti-national celebration.

In the historic battle which was fought between the British East India Company, was full of Dalits in its infantry, and the Peshwas, who were upper-caste Brahmins, at Koregaon Bhima on January 1, 1818, the Marathas eventually took out. Since then the lower-caste communities have been observing it as a symbolic victory for themselves. (NT)