Statehood call shuts down Maharashtra's Vidarbha

Long distance and local services were disrupted, state transport buses stoned and most private and Government offices closed as the daylong shutdown for a separate state of Vidarbha, to be carved out of Maharashtra, began on Wednesday. Maharashtra police deployed heavy security in Nagpur and other major towns of the 11 districts where the shutdown called by 68 political parties and groups - Vidarbha Nirman Sangram Samiti (VNSS) - evoked a spontaneous and enthusiastic response, the organisers said.