Maharashtra Bandh July 23: Pune Police Deploy Security as VBA Plans Citywide Protests

Pune, 23rd July 2026: Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi (VBA) president Adv Prakash “Balasaheb” Ambedkar has called for a Maharashtra bandh on Thursday to protest the alleged police baton charge on students demonstrating in Delhi on July 20.

In Pune, the party has appealed to parents not to send their children to schools and colleges during the bandh. The appeal was made by VBA Pune city president Adv Arvind Tayde and youth wing city president Sagar Alhat at a press conference.

The leaders said more than 30 student groups, social organisations, traders’ bodies and like-minded political organisations had extended support to the bandh.

The main protest in Pune is scheduled to begin at 10 am with the garlanding of the statue of Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj in Deccan. A march will then proceed through Laxmi Road and Bhawani Peth before concluding at the statue of Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar near Pune Railway Station.

Organisers have appealed to students, social organisations, traders and like-minded political parties to participate in large numbers. They said the resignation of the Union Education Minister was among the protest’s principal demands.

Pune city
A police preparedness document lists several protests and campaigns planned in different parts of Pune.

In the Samarth police jurisdiction, a protest led by VBA vice-president Omkar Gautam Kamble was scheduled for 10 am, with an estimated participation of 10 to 15 people. Six officers and 36 other police personnel were assigned for security.

The document also lists a foot campaign in the Faraskhana police jurisdiction, led by Omkar Kamble and Arvind Tayde, to appeal to residents and traders to support the Pune bandh. The programme was listed for noon, with an anticipated gathering of 500 to 600 people.

On Sinhagad Road, Sopan “Kaka” Chavan was expected to lead a protest involving 100 to 150 people from 10.30 am. In Nanded City, Madhukar Dupargude of the Khadakwasla unit of the VBA was expected to lead a foot campaign involving 15 to 20 people from 11 am. One officer and five police personnel were assigned there.

A protest led by Akash Ramdas Navale in the Laxminagar police jurisdiction was listed between 11 am and 4 pm.

In Koregaon Park, Chandrakant Kamble and around 10 to 12 supporters were expected to request shopkeepers to close their establishments from 10 am. Two officers and 10 police personnel were deployed.

In Mundhwa, Swapnil Waghmare and Sachin Bhadkawad were to appeal to residents and traders to observe the bandh. The programme, involving an estimated 10 to 12 people, was listed for 8 am. Seven officers and 33 police personnel were assigned.

In Wagholi, a protest and bandh campaign led by Hiraman Kaluram Waghmare was scheduled between 10 am and 5 pm, with an estimated participation of 100 to 150 people. Five officers and 25 police personnel were deployed.

Pimpri-Chinchwad
In Pimpri-Chinchwad, VBA city general secretary Sanjeevan Kamble submitted a letter to the Police Commissioner’s Office concerning cooperation during the bandh, according to the police document.

The police assessment said the bandh could receive some response in Pimpri-Chinchwad because Adv Ambedkar has a support base in the city. However, the entry did not specify a protest route, programme time or anticipated crowd size.

Pune rural
Several programmes were also listed in the Pune rural police jurisdiction.
In Baramati, Ajit Sayad and Mangaldar Nikalje were expected to lead a sit-in involving 100 to 120 people from 10 am. Police said appropriate security arrangements had been made.

In Indapur, Hanumant Kamble of the VBA called for a town bandh from 7 am. The police assessment projected that between 70% and 80% of establishments could remain closed.

At Uruli Kanchan, Bahasaheb Badekar, representing the Nationalist Congress Party’s Sharad Pawar group, was expected to lead a protest march involving 200 to 250 people from 10 am.

In Paud, VBA leader Prashant Kamble was expected to lead a march involving 100 to 150 people from 11 am. Police said suitable security arrangements had been planned for both the Uruli Kanchan and Paud programmes.

The bandh and associated marches could affect traffic, markets and some educational institutions. Commuters have been advised to plan their journeys, particularly through Deccan, Laxmi Road, Bhawani Peth and the Pune Railway Station area.

The appeal concerning schools and colleges was issued by the VBA. The information provided does not mention any official government order directing educational institutions to remain closed. All anticipated crowd figures in the police document are estimates prepared for security planning and not confirmed attendance figures.