MUMBAI: Maharashtra witnessed large-scale violence on Tuesday with protestors resorting to stone-pelting and arson during the ongoing Maratha agitation. One constable died and nine other policemen were injured after three agitators tried to attempt suicide.
The Maharashtra bandh was called on Tuesday after the Maratha agitation took a tragic turn following the death of 26-year-old protestor Kakasaheb Shinde, triggering a fresh set of violent protests in several parts of the state.
Agitators clashed with the police and torched vehicles at several places, while Internet services were suspended in rural areas of Aurangabad district to prevent any untoward incident. In Jalna, the police fired in the air to scatter protesters.
On Wednesday, few Maratha outfits called for a 'peaceful' bandh across Maharashtra. The band has been called in areas like Palghar, Thane Raigad and Navi Mumbai. Schools, colleges, ambulances and hospitals are exempted from the bandh.
“We are not blocking any road. We are carrying out a peaceful protest. We have told our workers that there should be no inconvenience to the police or govt due to our protest. We are asking people to shut down their shops,” said a member of the Maratha Kranti Morcha.
The ongoing protest is likely to have a major impact in Western Maharashtra and Marathwada districts such as Aurangabad, Osmanabad, Beed and Ahmadnagar.
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The Maratha Kranti Morcha had on Monday demanded an apology from Fadnavis for alleging that some members from the community were planning violence at Pandharpur town in Solapur district, where the chief minister was earlier scheduled to perform puja at a temple on 'Ashadhi Ekadashi'. The outfit, which led the 'jal samadhi' protest in which Shinde died, is leading the agitation seeking reservation for the community in government jobs and education.
Protests set tires ablaze on Majiwada bridge in Thane. (ANI photo)
Best buses vandalised by protestors.
Deulgaon Raja: Shops remain closed as Maratha community call for a state-wide shutdown demanding reservation for the community, at Deulgaon Raja in Buldhana district of Maharashtra. (Photo: IANS)
Maratha Kranti Morcha workers set ablaze a truck in Aurangabad's Gangapur as a mark of their protest demanding reservation for Maratha community in government jobs and education (ANI photo)
Deulgaon Raja: Members of the Maratha community at Deulgaon Raja in Buldhana district of Maharashtra on July 24, 2018. (Photo: IANS)
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