Violence marks Maratha quota stir

The day-long bandh in Mumbai and its neighbouring districts, called by Maratha organisations demanding reservation in jobs and education, was marked by incidents of violence.

In view of the volatile situation, the Maratha Kranti Morcha — the apex umbrella organisation of the politically dominant and significant Maratha community — called off the protest at around 3 pm.

Immediately after that. Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis invited them for talks.

"The government has taken several decisions for the Maratha community. It is committed to give reservations to the Maratha community. As of now the matter is sub judice," he said.

Slogans like "Ek Maratha, Lakh Maratha" and "Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj ki Jai" rent the air as people blocked road, stopped trains, and engaged in stone-pelting in Mumbai and the neigbouring districts of Palghar, Thane and Raigad.

At a couple of places, police had to baton-charge the protesting mob and fired tear gas shells.

The road traffic between Mumbai-Pune, Mumbai-Goa and Mumbai-Nashik was affected.

In Satara district also, there were protests and a blockade for some time on the Pune-Bengaluru highway.

According to reports collated from the Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR), at least two dozen private and public vehicles were damaged and a bus was torched.

In the MMR, more than 450 people were detained by the police.

At Kalamboli off Navi Mumbai in Raigad district, protesters squatted blocking the Mumbai-Pune Expressway, one of the busiest routes.

In Thane, the two major protests were in the Teen Haath Naka and Nitin Company area. During the massive protests at the Nitin Company area, protesters pelted stones injuring policemen, who also had to use force.

In Palghar district, maximum protests were seen in Nalasopara in Vasai tehsil, where protesters ensured that shops downed their shutters.

"We wanted peaceful protest, we would like to apologise for the trouble to the common man. However, they have appreciated our cause," said Virendra Pawar, convenor of Maratha Kranti Morcha.

"The chief minister must come out and see instead of sitting in double security," he said.

Some of the members of the apex body also claimed that some miscreants entered the protests and engaged in violence and arson.