Mumbai: Three detained for vandalising car of lawyer opposing Maratha reservation

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The Mumbai Police detained three people for vandalising the car of advocate Gunaratna Sadarvarte outside his residence in Mumbai on Thursday, officials said. Sadarvarte has opposed the case in connection to the Maratha Reservation in the Bombay High Court and Supreme Court.

"Three people were detained in the case of vandalism of the vehicles of advocate Gunaratna Sadavarte in Mumbai by Bhoiwada police. Formalities for registering the offence are going on," Mumbai Police said.

Advocate Sadavarte however said that nothing will deter him for fighting for the rights of students in the open category.

"As long as there is blood in my veins, I will fight for the rights of students of the open category. I will not let the country disintegrate over caste. We say 'Jai Sri Ram', we say 'Vande Mataram'...My vehicles were vandalised today. I might be killed. But I won't step back. I won't be scared" Sadavarte told reporters in Mumbai today.

Meanwhile, on Wednesday Maratha reservation activist Manoj Jarange Patil once again started a hunger strike in Jalna, after the purported deadline of 40 days given to the given to the state government to announce the reservation expired.

Jarange Patil said that this time the community would intensify its protest and hold chain hunger strikes and candle marches till their demand is fulfilled.

Earlier on October 19, a man from Jalna district who came to Mumbai for the cause of the Maratha reservation allegedly died by suicide.

He allegedly hanged himself with a rope under the Western Express Highway in the Bandra area of Mumbai. The incident is said to have happened on Wednesday night, police said.

IN PHOTOS: Cars of lawyer opposing Maratha quota Gunaratna Sadavarte damaged in front of his home in Mumbai

The deceased is identified as Sunil Baburao Kawle, a resident of Chikangaon village in Ambad taluka of Jalna district, police said.

In the suicide note, the deceased wrote, "People of the Maratha community should gather in Mumbai on October 24 for the movement for the Maratha reservation." At the end of the suicide note, he also apologised, police said.

Congress leader Ashok Chavan also expressed condolences and said that it's a pity that such a thing has happened.

"A person from Hadgaon tehsil of Nanded has committed suicide after not getting a reservation for the Maratha community. It's a pity that such a thing has happened. I hope the government will give its judgement soon on the Maratha reservation," Ashok Chavan said.

The Maratha community has been protesting for the community's inclusion on the OBC list in the state. (With inputs from ANI)