<p>Maharashtra cooperation minister Harshavardhan Patil today suffered an eye injury after some activists from Dhangar community threw ink at him at a function at Bhigwan in Indapur tehsil of Pune district.<br /><br /></p>.<p>Dhangar community leaders have launched an agitation for inclusion in scheduled tribes category and benefits of reservation.<br /><br />Pune rural police said two persons were detained for interrogation after the incident.<br />Patil was treated at a hospital in nearby Baramati for pain in the left eye.<br />The incident took place when Patil stepped off the podium during the function and was accosted by protesters.<br /><br />The minister, a Congress leader, later appealed to party workers who staged a protest in Indapur (his home constituency) to maintain peace and cooperate with police.<br />Patil said that the ink apparently contained some chemical which was causing pain and irritation in his left eye.<br /><br />"I have always demanded justice for Dhangar community, and have been supporting it," he added.<br /><br />He was advised to get admitted to a hospital here for further investigation to rule out major injury by the doctors who treated him at Baramati. He was on his way to Pune.<br /><br />The Indapur-Baramati region has witnessed agitations by Dhangar community recently over the issue of reservation.<br /><br />Meanwhile, a spokesperson of the Dhangar community said in a statement that the agitation was being carried out peacefully, and the workers should not resort to any unlawful acts.</p>
<p>Maharashtra cooperation minister Harshavardhan Patil today suffered an eye injury after some activists from Dhangar community threw ink at him at a function at Bhigwan in Indapur tehsil of Pune district.<br /><br /></p>.<p>Dhangar community leaders have launched an agitation for inclusion in scheduled tribes category and benefits of reservation.<br /><br />Pune rural police said two persons were detained for interrogation after the incident.<br />Patil was treated at a hospital in nearby Baramati for pain in the left eye.<br />The incident took place when Patil stepped off the podium during the function and was accosted by protesters.<br /><br />The minister, a Congress leader, later appealed to party workers who staged a protest in Indapur (his home constituency) to maintain peace and cooperate with police.<br />Patil said that the ink apparently contained some chemical which was causing pain and irritation in his left eye.<br /><br />"I have always demanded justice for Dhangar community, and have been supporting it," he added.<br /><br />He was advised to get admitted to a hospital here for further investigation to rule out major injury by the doctors who treated him at Baramati. He was on his way to Pune.<br /><br />The Indapur-Baramati region has witnessed agitations by Dhangar community recently over the issue of reservation.<br /><br />Meanwhile, a spokesperson of the Dhangar community said in a statement that the agitation was being carried out peacefully, and the workers should not resort to any unlawful acts.</p>