Thane: Two groups in SUVs clash on Badlapur-Ambernath road; watch video

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The officials said that at least four persons appeared to have been injured after two groups driving in SUVs clashed on Badlapur-Ambernath road in the district on Tuesday evening.

The video of the incident, in which a black SUV is seen dashing and going past a white SUV, reversing and then hitting it head-on, went viral on social media. An official of Ambernath police told PTI that no case had been registered till late at night.

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The incident on the Badlapur-Ambernath road was said to be a result of enmity between two groups.

Police investigations have revealed that the incident was the result of a family dispute, with the driver deliberately targeting his family's vehicle in a fit of anger.

The motorist, identified as Satish Sharma, deliberately drove his vehicle into oncoming traffic, causing a collision with a family vehicle carrying his father, Bindeshwar Sharma, and other family members.

"Satish's father Bindeshwar was taking his daughter-in-law, grandson and other family members to his residence in Colaba in his car. However, an angry Satish chased the family vehicle and rammed his car into theirs on the state highway," said police.

The incident was captured on camera and went viral on social media, prompting rumours that one of the Badlapur demonstrators may have been involved. However, a police inquiry discovered that Satish's wife and family members were furious with him, so he rammed his father's vehicle from behind. In the incident, two pedestrians and two motorcycle riders--Om Chavan and Harsh Belekar--were injured. The injured were taken to a neighbouring hospital for treatment. The police have filed a case against Satish Sharma.

In another incident, the rail roko protest at Badlapur station in Thane district over the alleged sexual abuse of two girls at a school caused the diversion of 15 outstation trains and suspension of local train services on the Ambernath-Karjat section for ten hours, leaving thousands of passengers stranded, reported PTI.

The resumption of services was allowed in the night after the Central Railway operated a light engine between Ambernath and Vangni stations to ensure track safety in view of the eviction of protesters by the police.

The first suburban train reached Badlapur station at 8:05 PM, almost 10 hours after the services were suspended, said Swapnil Nila, chief public relations officer of Central Railway, reported PTI. After a gap of several hours, the first local train for Badlapur departed from CSMT in south Mumbai at around 7 pm, reported PTI.

Thousands of protesters on Tuesday blocked railway tracks at Badlapur station over the alleged sexual assault of two four-year-old girls by the school sweeper in the washroom, leading to massive disruption of local train services and diversion of some long-distance trains, reported PTI.

The Railway sought the requisition of 100 extra buses from state and civic transport bodies for commuters between Kalyan and Karjat and received 55 buses, Nila said.

(With inputs from PTI)