Mumbai, July 24: Statewide agitation of the Maratha Kranti Morcha will continue in Maharashtra on Wednesday as the protesting groups have called a bandh in Mumbai, Palghar, Thane, Navi Mumbai and Raigad districts today. Schools, colleges and public institutions have been excluded from the bandh call. Public transport is expected to run as usual unless the demonstrators stage rail or rasta roko.

The shutdown called has been issued to mark the community's dissent over the suicide of 28-year-old activist Kakasaheb Shinde, who ended his life in Aurangabad's Kaygaon on Monday. The youth took "jal samadhi" to seek reservation for the community, said Virendra Pawar, convenor of the Maratha Kranti Morcha.

The protesters have held Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis responsible for the suicide of Shinde, saying his non-committal approach towards the 31-point charter of demands raised by the Maratha Kranti Morcha has compelled the youth to end his life.

Bandh in Mumbai, Palghar, Thane & Navi Mumbai Tomorrow, What Gets Affected and What Not?

- Schools, colleges and all other educational institutions will function as per schedule. Private bus operators ferrying schoolchildren have not retracted their services for today. The Maratha Kranti Morcha has assured that they would not cause inconvenience in the functioning of schools.

- Public transport will run as per the daily schedule. No amendments have been issued despite the bandh call issued by all Maratha groups active in Mumbai and adjoining region.

- BEST, NMMT, KMT, and ST buses will ply as per the daily routine. Local trains, the lifeline of Mumbai, will also function as per the schedule.

- Traffic jams could be reported in some parts of Mumbai, Navi Mumbai, Palghar and Thane as the demonstrators could block roads to mark their angst.

As seen in the bandh observed in eight districts of Marathwada on Tuesday, the demonstrators resorted to bruning private vehicles and pelting stones at the state-owned buses to mark as part of their protest. Road roko agitations were also observed in various parts of eastern Maharashtra. In Aurangabad, two youths - Jayant Sonawane and Jagannath Sonawane - attempted suicide by jumping into well and consuming poison respectively. Both of them were rescued and are currently admitted in hospital.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jul 24, 2018 11:30 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).