Agitators block highway traffic to protest razing of ashram

Hundreds of agitators, including women, on Friday, blocked traffic on a section of the Mumbai- Ahmedabad highway to protest demolition of an ashram at the Tungareshwar hills at Virar near here. Thane district rural police sources said due to the agitation, hundreds of vehicles were stranded on the busy highway, around 15km from here.

The agitators were protesting the demolition of the Balayogi Shree Sadanand Maharaj Ashram at the Tungareshwar hills on directions of the Supreme Court. The additional police force has been rushed to the spot to avoid any law and order problem, they said.

A district police spokesman said no untoward incident has been reported so far. An NGO, which has moved the apex court, has alleged the ashram has been constructed in violation of environment and forest regulations.