• Members of the Bharatiya Bauddh Mahasabha (Buddhist Society of India) (BBM) and Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi  (VBA) are slated to hold a statewide protest in Maharashtra on March 12.
• The exact location and the timing of the protest remain unannounced as of writing.
• The protest will be held to demand the repeal of the Bodh Gaya Temple Act of 1949 and call for the transfer of the Mahabodhi Temple’s management in Bodh Gaya, Bihar State, to the Buddhist community.

1. The turnout at the statewide demonstration is expected to reach in high dozens in major urban centers, including Mumbai, Pune, and Nagpur, considering the mobilization capabilities of the organizing group and the event’s traction on social media. The turnout at other locations is likely to range in the mid-to-high dozens. The attendance will bolster should other like-minded organizations or parties, such as Bharipa Bahujan Mahasangh, join the protest. Although the specific protest locations remain undisclosed, spontaneous gatherings are likely to occur at key sites, including government buildings, Azad Maidan, and Shivaji Park in Mumbai.
2. The authorities are anticipated to bolster security measures in the vicinity of the government buildings across all districts. These measures will likely include police deployment and barricade installations to monitor events. There remains a latent risk of localized confrontations between demonstrators and the authorities, particularly if protestors employ disruptive tactics or block major thoroughfares.  In such cases, police will likely employ crowd dispersal tactics, including temporary detentions and baton charges. Localized travel disruptions are expected in the vicinity of the demonstration sites during protest hours on March 12.

Those operating or residing in Maharashtra, including in Mumbai and Pune, on March 12 are advised to maintain vigilance due to the slated statewide protest and the associated low-level risk of scuffles while allotting for travel disruptions.