Maratha reservation agitation takes violent route as two persons attempt suicide in Aurangabad

The Maratha Kranti Morcha, which had called for a statewide bandh in Maharashtra has warned of bigger protests if Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis doesn't apologise to the community.

The Maratha Kranti Morcha had marched towards Mumbai demanding reservations for the community members in jobs and educational institutions. (File photo | EPS )

Following the suicide of protestor Kakasaheb Shinde, the Maratha agitation, demanding reservation in government jobs and education has turned violent with various regions including Aurangabad witnessing rising violence in which a policemen and two others were injured.

The 27-year-old on Monday had jumped off a bridge over Godavari River in Aurangabad. However, he was declared brought dead when he was rushed to the hospital, police said.

Maharashtra government on Tuesday announced Rs 10 lakh ex gratia for Kakasaheb Shinde's family.

Various Maratha groups have announced a Maharashtra shutdown on August 9 - celebrated as August Kranti Day - to intensify the agitation going on since nearly two years.

The Maratha Kranti Morcha, which had called for a statewide bandh in Maharashtra has warned of bigger protests if Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis doesn't apologise to the community.

The group alleges 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'.

"We will continue our agitation until Chief Minister Fadnavis apologises to the Maratha community. We will observe bandh in Aurangabad and other parts of the state today," Ravindra Patil, the coordinator of a pro-reservation group of Marathas, said.

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Law and Order situation was disrupted in parts of the state as the agitation spread to areas like Aurangabad.

A fire brigade vehicle was torched in Aurangabad and a police jeep was set ablaze in Hingoli even as the issue was raised in the Lok Sabha by Shiv Sena MP Vinayak Raut.

In Deogaon Rangari of Aurangabad, three people attempted suicide on Tuesday.

Meanwhile, three persons attempted suicide. While Jayant Sonavne jumped into a river,Jagannath Sonavne consumed poison in support of the agitation.

Protestors have also set ablaze a truck and the situation escalated further when the mob pelted stones at police in Aurangabad's Gangapur.

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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.

In the last few days, protests have taken place in Buldhana, Akola, Parali, Washim and even in Mumbai.

Fadnavis had said on Sunday that he was cancelling his visit, scheduled yesterday, to the temple in Pandharpur after protesting Maratha outfits threatened to disrupt the event.

All major political parties including Congress' Ashok Chavan and Sachin Sawant, Nationalist Congress Party's Jitendra Awhad and others have urged the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party government to resolve the issue of Maratha reservations expeditiously.

Quotas for Marathas, a politically influential community that constitutes around 30 per cent of the state's population, has been a hugely contentious issue.

The community leaders had earlier taken out several rallies in various districts to highlight their demands.

(with inputs from IANS)