Maharashtra Bandh: Jagannath Sonavne, Protester Who Consumed Poison in Aurangabad, Dies in Hospital

Mumbai, July 25:  Jagannath Sonavne, a protester who attempted suicide by consuming poison on Tuesday in Aurangabad's Deogaon Rangari, died in a hospital on Wednesday. Sonavne was one of the protesters in the agitation for reservation for Maratha community in government jobs and education. The Maratha outfits called for a bandh in the state on Tuesday and Wednesday, a day after a man demanding reservation for the community jumped to his death in a river in Aurangabad district.

On Monday, a 27-year-old protester, Kakasaheb Shinde, jumped off a bridge over Godavari River in Aurangabad. He was rushed to a hospital where he was declared dead, police said. Shinde's death had triggered a fresh set of protests in several parts of Maharashtra.

The stir for reservation in jobs and education intensified across Mumbai on Wednesday. The Maratha Kranti Morcha, which is spearheading the agitation, took to streets in Mumbai's Ghatkopar, Thane and Powai areas, calling for a complete shutdown. Workers of Maratha Kranti Morcha forcibly shut shops at many places across the state. Reports inform that few protesters were detained by Police in Ghatkopar.

The Sakal Maratha Samaj has called for a ‘bandh’ today in the city, in Thane, Navi Mumbai, Raigad, and Palghar. On Tuesday, Maharashtra minister Vinod Tawde said that local authorities and police would assess the law and order conditions during the bandh on Wednesday. The Maratha leaders say they have called the bandh across the state on Tuesday and that they would continue their agitation until Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis apologises to the community.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jul 25, 2018 10:18 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).