Maratha Reservation: Protest in Maha's Jalna, Several People Including Police Injured

Several persons including 12 police personnel were injured on Friday after a protest demanding Maratha reservation in the Jalna district became violent in central Maharashtra.

Police used baton-charge and fired teargas shells to disperse a violent mob at Antarwali Sarathi village on Dhule-Solapur road in Ambad tehsil. Villagers also claimed that police fired some rounds in the air, but officials did not confirm it.

The protesters, led by Manoj Jarange, had been staging a hunger strike demanding reservation for the Maratha community at the village since Tuesday.

While Chief Minister Eknath Shinde made an appeal for peace and announced that a committee will be set up for a high-level probe into the violence, deputy Chief Minister and Home Minister Devendra Fadnavis claimed that the police were forced to use baton-charge due to stone pelting.

The reservation provided by the state government for the politically dominant Maratha community was quashed by the Supreme Court earlier. The agitation turned violent on Friday as some persons targeted state transport buses and private vehicles, police said.

At least 12 police personnel and officials including deputy superintendent of police Sachin Sangle were injured in stone pelting while 20 protesters were injured in baton-charge at Antarwali Sarathi, police sources said. The chief minister had spoken to the protesters on Wednesday, urging them to end the hunger strike, but they refused to relent, officials said.

Earlier on Thursday, shops and other commercial establishments at Wadigodri village in Ambad tehsil had remained closed, while there was a massive protest gathering at Shahgadh earlier in the week. Additional police forces have been sent to Jalna, officials said.

Addressing the media over the issue, Maharashtra CM said, “The state government is taking this issue seriously and we will welcome it if there are any suggestions. I appeal to the protesters to maintain peace so that the common people do not suffer. A committee will be set up for a high-level probe into the violence."

Meanwhile, Congress leader Ashok Chavan demanded that the state government make clear its stand on Maratha reservation. The baton-charge by police at Antarwali Sarathi village was unacceptable, the former chief minister added.