Mumbai-Dalit strike latest: City plunges into chaos as workers from India's lowest caste walk out in spontaneous protest

‘Untouchables’ rebel after attacks from right-wing groups

Members of the Dalit community shout slogans as they block a road during a protest in Mumbai on 3 January (Reuters)

Violence erupted in Mumbai and parts of the city ground to a halt after workers from India’s lowest caste went on strike to protest against attacks by right-wing groups.

Demonstrators from the Dalit community pelted cars and buses with stones and slashed their tyres. Activists also blocked roads and railway lines.

It forced businesses, schools and colleges across the city to close their doors.

The Dalits, who rank at the bottom of India’s caste hierarchy and were once known as “untouchables” before the system was partially reformed, called the strike across the western state of Maharashtra after members of their community were attacked by right-wing Hindu groups in the city of Pune, around 90 miles from Mumbai.

At least one Dalit activist was killed when Hindu groups disrupted a rally marking the 200th anniversary of the Bhima-Koregaon battle, state media reported.

Dalits commemorate the battle, in which they fought alongside British colonial forces against an upper-caste ruler. But nationalist groups in Pune reportedly expressed opposition to the celebration of “British victory”.

The term Dalit in Sanskrit means “broken” or “suppressed”, and despite modern programmes of affirmative action many Dalits struggle to break out of the cycle of poverty. They have traditionally only been allowed to do jobs deemed impure by other castes, such as collecting rubbish, and those damaging prejudices remain.

“The government didn’t arrest the perpetrators of violence in Pune. Hindu group members were beating Dalits and the police were just watching from afar,” said protester Sandeep Kamble. “We are demanding the arrest of the culprits.”

Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge blamed nationalist group Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) and other right-wing Hindu factions for the violence against Dalits.

Calling for an inquiry into the riot, he demanded Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who leads the ruling Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), speak publicly on the issue.

“A Supreme Court judge should be appointed for inquiry in the Bhima-Koregaon violence,” Mr Kharge said. “The Prime Minister should also give a statement, he cannot stay mum.”

In parts of the Mumbai suburb of Thane, officials banned crowds of any size from assembling, after groups disrupted road and rail services during the morning rush hour.

Internet service was also down in places, purportedly to restrict social media access for those organising acts of civil disobedience.

Taxis, including those working for cab hailing services like Uber and Ola, were also largely off the roads in Mumbai. A number of employers asked staff to work from home.

Additional reporting by agencies