Maratha Quota Stir: 16 Vehicles Set Ablaze, 25 Vehicles Vandalised by Violent Protesters, Section 144 Revoked in Pune’s Chakan
According to a tweet by ANI, Pune District Collector informed that the situation is now under control and peace has been restored. Also, Section 144 (prohibits assembly of more than 4 people in an area) that was imposed due to the protests has now been revoked.
Pune, July 30: Maratha reservation protest turned violent in Chakan, 40 kilometres from Pune on Monday in which a total of 16 vehicles were set ablaze while about 25 vehicles were vandalised by angry protesters'. Reports inform that nearly 90 vehicles were damaged, and traffic was disrupted on the Pune-Nashik highway. According to a tweet by ANI, Pune District Collector informed that the situation is now under control and peace has been restored. Also, Section 144 (prohibits assembly of more than 4 people in an area) that was imposed due to the protests has now been revoked.
It must be noted that Section 144 prohibits assembly of more than 4 people in an area. Violence in Pune on Monday comes days after the Maratha outfits held a state-wide agitation in the last week over the demand for reservation for the Maratha community in Maharashtra. In the last week, three people were killed in the protests.
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 protesters behind the act of arson are suspected to belong to the Maratha Kranti Morcha, an outfit spearheading agitation for quota for the Maratha community in jobs and education.
A 35-year-old man allegedly committed suicide by jumping in front of a moving train over the Maratha quota demand in Aurangabad. According to a report by PTI, the man, identified as Pramod Jaising Hore. Hore had posted a message on his Facebook page and shared a message on WhatsApp on Sunday, saying he would be ending his life in support of the reservation demand, Mukundwadi police station's Senior Inspector Natha Jadhav told PTI.
In the last week, the bandh in Mumbai was called off just before 3 pm after various parts saw violence. The Maratha Kranti Morcha had given the call for the bandh, demanding an apology from Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis for alleging that some members from the community were planning violence at Pandharpur town in Solapur district.
(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jul 30, 2018 08:34 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).