Violence in Maharashtra
| Lathicharge on ‘Maratha’ demonstrators at Jalna
Arsonists burnt 15 buses, 37 Policemen and 20 demonstrators injured |
Jalna (Maharashtra) – Police lathi-charged the demonstrators staging a hunger strike in support of the demand for reservations for Maratha, which led to a stampede, injuring 20 people including children, women, and demonstrators. The demonstrators pelted stones at the Police; as a result, 37 Policemen, including the lady Police staff, were injured. They have been admitted to the sub-district hospital at Ambad and the District hospital at Jalna. The enraged mob resorted to arson, setting 15 buses on fire. There have been strong repercussions in Maharashtra of the lathi-charge by the Police. A case has been filed at Gondi Police Station against 300–350 demonstrators, including 16 main demonstrators, for causing obstructions in carrying out Government work, inciting riots, and causing damage to public property.
On 29th August 2023, ‘Jan Akrosh Morcha’ was undertaken at Shahagad, but no attention was paid to it; therefore, ten demonstrators led by Manoj Jarande-Patil started a hunger strike. On the 1st of September 2023, the Police went to the place where the hunger strike was staged, with a large number of personnel and tried to admit Jarande-Patil to a hospital citing the deterioration of his health. The crowd started growing at the place; therefore, the Police tried to take demonstrators into custody to control the situation. The demonstrators, however, started pelting stones at the Police; hence, the Police lathi-charged them.
Sarpanch burns his own car at Phulambri (District Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar)
Sarpanch Mangesh Sable of Phulambri in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar District set his own car on fire to condemn the State Government for the lathi-charge on Maratha demonstrators. Sable was present with other Maratha demonstrators. A video of this incident became viral on social media. Mangesh Sable said while talking to the media, “We shall not keep quiet if our people are going to be attacked. Now, we have burnt our own car, but later, we will set ourselves on fire to register our discontent. We will set ourselves on fire if, in two days, the Government does not take action against those who lathi-charged demonstrators.
Sarpanch of Phulambri in Sambhaji Nagar sets own car ablaze to register protest against lathi-charge on Maratha protesters in Jalna. pic.twitter.com/XptJaJnofN
— MUMBAI NEWS (@Mumbaikhabar9) September 2, 2023
Maratha community blocks the roads at Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar
On 2nd September 2023, members of the Maratha community blocked the roads at CIDCO bus stand Chowk at 9.30 a.m. The conveners of ‘Maratha Kranti Morcha’ accused the State Government and the Police Administration of adopting a dictatorial attitude and condemned them in strong words.
The State Road Transport bus service from Solapur to Marathwada has been temporarily stopped.
Maratha reservation is not a political issue – Dy CM Devendra Fadanvis
Maratha reservation is not a political issue. The Government is trying to allocate a quota for the Maratha community. I have ordered an inquiry into the incident of the lathi-charge. Many Policemen were injured in stone-pelting; after which, they resorted to lathi-charge. Had they not done so, they would have been in a very serious situation.
An inquiry will be conducted into the Police action – Dy CM Ajit Pawar
There will be an inquiry into the Policemen who lathi-charged the demonstrators, misusing their power.
Presently, there is a dictatorial rule in the State – Sharad Pawar, NCP
There is a dictatorship in Maharashtra. The duty of the State Government and Home Department is to maintain peace in the State, but it is very infuriating that the Administrators from the Home Ministry used Police force to lathi-charge Maratha demonstrators.
Devendra Fadanvis should be asked to resign – Prithviraj Chauhan, Congress
Chief Minister Eknath Shinde should take action against the guilty and ask Home Minister Devendra Fadanvis to resign.
Why did the Government take such an extreme step? – Raj Thackeray, MNS
Why did the Government take such an extreme step against the demonstrations? MNS will support every demonstration staged by the members of the Maratha community.
Other happenings
Despite an appeal of ‘Dharashiv Bandh’, a few shops were open; therefore, women among Maratha demonstrators pelted stones at those shops, creating tension in the area.
A bus from Kolhapur depot was set on fire at 12.00 midnight at the central bus stand in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar while another bus was burnt at CIDCO bus stand.
Roads were blocked, for one hour, near the Aurala diversion in Kannad Taluka in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar District on Kannad-Vaijapur Road as a mark of protest against the State Government.
MP Udayanraje Bhosale and Chhatrapati Sambhajiraje of ‘Swarajya Sanghatana’ visited the place of the incident and collected details about the demonstrations.