Aarey Forest Protest: Prakash Ambedkar detained by Mumbai Police

As the stir continues over the felling of over 2,500 trees in Mumbai's Aarey Colony for the proposed car shed for Mumbai Metro 3, a big political row has erupted. The Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi (VBA) chief Prakash Ambedkar was detained by Mumbai police on Sunday when he tried entering Aarey to protest. He has been taken to Powai after his arrest, as per reports. Protests intensified on Saturday amid heavy restrictions leading to the arrests of 29 people and 38 being booked. Several leaders were also detained while protesting.

Earlier on Saturday, police has arrested the VBA Mumbai president Suresh Shetty along with Dilbaug Singh and AR Anjariya, for their participation in the protest against illegal cutting down of trees in Aarey colony.

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Shiv Sena leader Priyanka Chaturvedi was also forcefully evicted by the police present at the site on her visit to the Aarey colony.

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Section 144 imposed at Aarey

Earlier on Saturday, Section 144 was imposed in the area from the entrance into Aarey to Marol Maroshi Road. Protests in the Aarey colony broke out after the authorities from Mumbai Metro Rail Corporation Limited (MMRCL) started cutting trees in the area following Bombay High Court's dismissal of all petitions challenging the felling of trees.

READ | Bombay HC Rejects Plea Seeking Stay On Felling Of Trees In Aarey

Bombay HC dismisses petitions

The Bombay High Court, on Friday, refused to declare Aarey colony a forest and also decline all four petitions against the felling of trees and imposed a penalty of Rs 50,000 on Shiv Sena corporator Yashwant Jadhav, who had filed a petition against the approval granted by the civic body's tree authority. 

The issue has reached all the way to the Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis after Aaditya Thackeray had criticised his government for allowing the trees to be cut. Fadnavis, reacted to Thackeray 's stance on the issue saying that Thackeray's intentions were noble, but he wasn't aware of the hidden intentions of those who want to prevent the felling of trees. 

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