Police lathicharged on protesters during a democratic and peaceful protest for Maratha reservation at Antarwali in Jalna district, Maharashtra. Many protesters including women and girls were injured in this. The impact of this incident is visible throughout the state. Incidents of violence have taken place at many places. On the other hand, in protest against this incident in Jalna, Maratha Kranti Morcha has called for bandh in Jalna and Beed today i.e. on Saturday. Jalna District Maratha Morcha is requesting that all Jalnakars should cooperate by keeping all commercial establishments, transport, market stalls closed except health facilities, schools and colleges.
In fact, since August 29, 10 people, including the convenor of Maratha Marcha, Manoj Jarange, were on a hunger strike demanding reservation. On Thursday, the police tried to detain the protesters but there was resistance from their side. Later today when talks were going on between the police and the protesters. Then the police lathicharged. According to the information given by the police, first there was stone pelting and then there was lathicharge. Police fired two rounds in the air to pacify the aggressive protesters. The peaceful protest going on for the four days, turned violent.
The effect of this incident was seen in different parts of the state. Some buses were burnt on the Dhule-Solapur highway. Now a bandh has been called in Jalna, Beed district in protest against the police lathicharge. A large number of police officers and personnel have been injured during the movement of the Maratha Kranti Morcha. According to surgeon in-charge Dr. Pratap Ghodke, the injured policemen and civilians have been brought to the district government hospital in Jalna and their number is 53. All the injured are undergoing treatment and none is seriously injured.
