QUOTA STIR TURNS HOSTILE ACROSS THE STATE
A day after the statewide shutdown called by the Maratha Kranti Morcha paralyzed Marathwada, parts of western Maharashtra and North Maharashtra, including Nashik and Ahmednagar district, remained restive on Wednesday, with the agitation turning hostile in Satara district. The Superintendent of Police, along with two other policemen were injured after a mob began stone-pelting along the Satara highway.
Meanwhile, a man, Jagannath Sonawane, 55, who had consumed poison in Aurangabad on Tuesday when the reservation protest was going on, died in a hospital. Sonawane committed suicide over domestic issues, claimed Aurangabad Superintendent of Police Arti Singh, adding, he was not part of the protest.
“One of the stones shattered the SP’s car and injured his hand, while two other security men suffered injuries while trying to control the mob. Both are undergoing treatment at a local hospital and are said to be out of danger,” informed police sub-inspector (PSI) V.G. Kubde, from Satara. Two police vehicles were damaged in the melee as demonstrators shut off the Pune-Satara highway. There were reports of vandalism from the district’s Karad taluka as well.
In Ahmednagar district, an incensed mob hurled stones at the residence of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP Dinesh Gandhi, while in Nanded, an activist belonging to the Maratha outfit ‘Chhava Sanghatana’ attempted suicide. “The man, identified as Punjabrao Kale, had climbed atop a Shivaji statue and was about to jump off the railings. However, he was saved in the nick of time and taken into custody,” said a police official. Incidents of vandalism were reported from a number of points in Ahmednagar district. A vehicle belonging to the State Forest Department was smashed and overturned by a mob in Karjat, while a gang damaged a two-wheeler showroom along the Ahmednagar-Manmad road.
447 protesters detained in city
MUMBAI: Mumbai Police detained 447 persons on Wednesday during the bandh led by the Sakal Maratha Samaj, while twenty persons were detained by Thane Police. Two assistant police inspectors from Naupada police station sustained minor injuries in a stone-pelting incident at Thane. Protests took place in 45 areas of Mumbai. Kalamboli Police fired a round in the air after protesters pelted stones at a police van and set it on fire. A 25-year-old protester, Tushar Bajrang Kadam, was seriously injured after a bullet grazed his stomach. He is presently being treated at the Mahatma Gandhi Hospital at Kamothe.
Aarey Police detained Abhijeet Rane, who was to lead a morcha, at Goregaon. The Sion-Panvel highway was blocked by protesters at Kalamboli Junction and Vashi on Wednesday evening until 5.20pm. Assistant Police Inspectors Ashok Bhandare and Nilesh More from Naupada Police Station were injured in the stone pelting incident near Nitin Company signal opposite Korum Mall at Thane. Stonepelting was also reported at Mankhurd, Andheri, Goregaon, Santacruz and Chembur. Stones were pelted at buses at Dindoshi and at two BEST buses in Ghansoli, Navi Mumbai. As a result, bus services were suspended between Airoli and Vashi. Traffic jams were reported on the Eastern Express Highway and Western Express Highway at Samata Nagar, Kandivli, Magathane at Borivli and Jogeshwari flyover. Traffic movement resumed after two hours, around 11.30am on WEH. Entry points towards Vitawa and Kalwa from Panvel were closed. Nine buses were damaged at Kurla, Bhandup, Andheri, Sakinaka, Kandivli, Koparkhairane and Chandivli. Six State Transport buses were damaged at Kalyan. Tyre-burning incidents were reported at Mulund Check Naka.
Protesters set ablaze a BEST bus number 517 (Santacruz to Vashi) at Patil Nagar, Mankhurd with a can of petrol. However, nobody was injured in the incident. Fire brigade officials were called in to douse the fire. The glass panes of a car were damaged at Sanjog restaurant at Kalamboli, Navi Mumbai. Stones were also pelted at a BEST bus in Goregaon. A shopkeeper was assaulted by a protester at Bhandup. Stones were pelted at Thane Municipal Transport (TMT) bus number 23 at Vartak Nagar and Wagle Estate at 7.15am.The front windshield of the bus was damaged in the incident. Thane market wore a deserted look on Wednesday afternoon due to the protest. Traffic jam was reported at Jogeshwari on Wednesday at 10am. Nine incidents of tyre-burning were reported at Kurla's Bail Bazaar, near D-Mart at Koparkhairane and Chandivli. BEST buses were stopped at Kandivli and Charkop by protesters.
According to Deepak Devraj, Deputy Commissioner of Police and Mumbai Police Spokesperson said, “The protest was conducted at 45 spots in Mumbai. Total 447 protestors have been detained. The process for registering offences is underway.”
According to Sukhada Narkar, Thane Police spokesperson, “Twenty persons have been detained so far. Fifteen persons have been detained by Naupada Police. A First Information Report (FIR) has been registered by the Vartak Nagar Police against unknown persons for pelting stones at a Thane Municipal Transport (TMT) bus at Vartak Nagar. Bandobast is still on at Thane. The process of registration of offences is underway.”