| Sporadic incidents of arson,
stone pelting and shops being forcibly shut were reported
from various places in the city as the news of the suicide
spread.
Impromptu and ''leaderless'' protest marches were also carried
out by various groups in the city following the incident.
The situation seemed to be under control by late evening
with heavy security arrangements, including the deployment
of reserve forces, being made by the police.
Badant Sanghraj Thairo (75), the priest of Sandesh Buddh
Vihar near Deonar slaughter-house was found dead at his residence
(behind the shrine) this morning.
According to police, they found a piece of rope lying by
his side, and it seemed to be suicide. They however, added
that the body has been sent for a postmortem and the cause
of the death will be known only when the report is made available.
However, local residents, as well as some colleagues of the
priest suspected it to be a murder and filed a complaint with
the police, Deputy Commissioner of Police (Zone VI) Niket
Kaushik said.
According to Kaushik, Thairo along with other ''Bhikkus'',
was opposing a Slum Rehabilitation Authority redevelopment
project carried out by Lakdawala Builders in the area, while
office bearers of the local Buddha Vihar Society supported
it.
As the news of the death spread, some local residents burnt
a warehouse of the builder situated nearby and also torched
some vehicles apart from stone pelting on some government
buses, police said.
Incidents of stone pelting and arson were reported from nearby
Mankhurd, Pant Nagar and Chembur areas. People also held portest
marches in Khar and Bhoiwada areas demanding a thorough probe
into the matter.
Minor stone pelting on government buses were also reported
from the sensitive suburb of Kurla wherein residents of the
Buddha Nagar ventured on to the roads.
Stating that two enraged youths were detained in the Thakur
village area as a preventive measure, Deputy Commissioner
of Police (Zone XII) Shivaji Bodke said the police was able
to restrict the protests due to the various initiatives like
the Mohalla Committee meetings.
Multiple companies of the State Reserve Police Force have
been deployed at various sensitive pockets across the city
in the night, a senior police officer said.
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