01 September,2023 10:16 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondent
CM Eknath Shinde. File Pic
Maharashtra CM Eknath Shinde on Friday appealed for peace after a protest for Maratha reservation in the Jalna district of the state turned violent.
According to an official statement, CM Eknath Shinde made an appeal for peace and announced that a committee will be set up for a high-level probe into the violence.
It said that CM Shinde said that the state government is committed to provide reservation to the Maratha community, and nobody should resort to violence.
The statement said, the incident of lathicharge during the ongoing agitation for Maratha reservation at Antarvali in Jalna district is very unfortunate. CM Shinde said that the information about the incident has been taken from the Collector and Superintendent of Police and he also interacted with the leaders of the movement.
A high-level inquiry will be conducted into the incident of lathi charge on the protesters. The Chief Minister has appealed to the citizens to maintain peace.
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Meanwhile, the police used baton-charge to disperse a violent mob at Antarwali Sarathi village on Dhule-Solapur road in Ambad tehsil, the PTI reported on Friday.
The protesters, led by Manoj Jarange, had been staging a hunger strike demanding reservation for the Maratha community at the village since Tuesday, according to the PTI.
The agitation turned violent on Friday as some persons targeted state transport buses and private vehicles, police said, as per the PTI.
At least 12 police personnel and officials including deputy superintendent of police Sachin Sangle were injured in stone pelting while 20 protesters were injured in baton-charge at Antarwali Sarathi, police sources said.
The chief minister had spoken to the protesters on Wednesday, urging them to end the hunger strike, but they refused to relent, officials said.
On Thursday, shops and other commercial establishments at Wadigodri village in Ambad tehsil had remained closed, while there was a massive protest gathering at Shahgadh earlier in the week.
Speaking to a regional news channel, chief minister Shinde said the state government was committed to provide reservation to the Maratha community, and nobody should resort to violence. The state government is taking some steps to give reservation to the community.
(with PTI inputs)
