Maratha Reservation: Violence erupts in Pune, curfew imposed

Pune, July 30: Over 40 vehicles torched and several commuters have been stranded on Monday as Maratha reservation stir erupted in Pune.

Section 144 (prohibits assembly of more than 4 people in an area) has been imposed in Pune's Chakan following violent protests in the area over the Maratha Reservation issue.

According to reports, protesters resorted to the burning of tires, vandalising buses and blocking roads.

The protesters - believed to be members of the Maratha Kranti Morcha, which had spearheaded the recent protests in Mumbai - also pelted stones at and set buses and private vehicles on fire, a senior police officer said, according to News18.

In another incident, a man allegedly committed suicide by jumping in front of a moving train in Aurangabad over the Maratha quota demand, police told PTI.

The man, identified as Pramod Jaising Hore, had posted a message on his Facebook page and shared a message on WhatsApp yesterday, saying he would be ending his life in support of the reservation demand, said Mukundwadi police station's Senior Inspector Natha Jadhav.