19 October,2023 05:40 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondent
Representational Pic/File
A 45-year-old Maratha quota activist allegedly committed suicide in Bandra area of Mumbai, a police official said on Thursday, reported the PTI.
According to the PTI, Sunil Kawale, a resident of Chikangaon in Ambad tehsil of Jalna district, was found hanging from pole number 4 of a flyover between Bandra and Bandra Kurla Complex (BKC) in the western part of the metropolis on Wednesday night, he said.
He allegedly hanged himself by tying himself to the electricity pole on the flyover and then jumping off, the official said.
A suicide note found near his body said he was ending his life for the sake of Maratha reservation, and the white shirt Kawale was wearing also had a message making this demand, the official informed, as per the PTI.
"He was an active member of the Maratha Kranti Morcha, which has been seeking quota for the community, and attended all 58 rallies organised over this demand," he told the PTI.
On being alerted, Kherwadi police arrived at the site and sent the body for post mortem at civic-run Sion hospital, he added.
Meanwhile, Maharashtra Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) chief Chandrashekhar Bawankule on Tuesday said a decision to be taken by the state government on Maratha reservation will be agreeable to activist Manoj Jarange and at the same time it won't affect other sections, reported news agency PTI.
Chandrashekhar Bawankule alleged the Maratha community lost the reservation due to former chief minister Uddhav Thackeray's "incompetency", reported PTI.
Manoj Jarange, who had observed a hunger strike demanding reservation for the Maratha community in jobs and education under the OBC category, has given the state government time till October 24 to take appropriate action, reported PTI.
"The state government will take such a decision on the reservation for Marathas that it will be agreeable to activist Manoj Jarange and at the same time it won't affect other sections," Chandrashekhar Bawankule had told reporters.
He said decisions finalised during a meeting between Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and representatives of people on the Maratha quota issue will be implemented accordingly, reported PTI.
(with PTI inputs)
