Maratha protests: 2 fire brigade vehicles torched, cops attacked in Aurangabad as Maharashtra bandh turns violent

The Maharashtra bandh called by Maratha outfits turned violent on Tuesday as protesters attacked cops and torched their vehicles in Aurangabad district. The massive protest was called after a man demanding reservation for the Maratha community jumped to his death in a river in the district.

According to a Zee 24 Tas report, protesters clashed with police in Aurangabad and torched two fire brigade vehicles. At least one policeman was injured in the clashes. 

Locals in Aurangabad also attacked the vehicle of Shiv Sena MP Chandrakant Khaire when he went to attend the funeral of the youth who committed suicide by jumping into Godavari river on Monday. 

Maharashtra: Maratha Kranti Morcha workers set a truck ablaze in Aurangabad's Gangapur during their protest, demanding reservation for Maratha community in govt jobs & education. pic.twitter.com/NiU8RmcAjD

— ANI (@ANI) July 24, 2018

Protesters in Hingoli district also turned violent and torched a police vehicle.

Meanwhile, three more people attempted suicide on Tuesday and have been admitted to a hospital for treatment. While two people, identified as Jayant Sonawane and Guddu Sonawane attempted suicide by jumping into a river, Jagannath Sonavne consumed poison.

Today’s bandh was called after a man, identified as 27-year-old Kakasaheb Shinde, jumped to his death in Godavari river in Aurangabad district.

Shinde's death had triggered a fresh set of protests in several parts of Maharashtra, with opposition leaders seeking to put the onus he BJP-led government in the state.

A pro-reservation Maratha leader said they have called the bandh across the state and that they would continue their agitation until Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis apologises to the community. Fadnavis had said on Sunday that he was cancelling his visit, scheduled on Monday, to the temple in Pandharpur after protesting Maratha outfits threatened to disrupt the event.

"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.

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.

Quotas for Marathas, a politically influential community that constitutes around 30% 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. 

Last year, a huge rally was organised by the Maratha Kranti Morcha in this connection in Mumbai.

(With PTI inputs)