Prakash Ambedkar, leader of the Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi (VBA), claimed on July 23, 2026, that 3,500 party workers were detained by police ahead of a Maharashtra bandh. The bandh was called to protest education policies and recent police actions.
According to Ambedkar, the detentions occurred across the state, including in Mumbai, Pune, and Nagpur, as workers attempted to gather for the strike. He alleged that the police action was an attempt to suppress dissent.
Local police officials have not yet confirmed the exact number of detentions. The bandh, which began early morning, has seen mixed responses, with some markets and transport services affected in parts of Maharashtra.
The VBA has been vocal against the state government's education reforms and what they describe as heavy-handed policing. The situation remains tense as the day progresses.
