New Delhi (Agency): Maratha community members in Solapur, Maharashtra, staged a protest by burning tyres on a service road along the Solapur-Pune highway. The demonstration, known as ‘Rasta Roko’ (road blockade), was held in response to the recent police lathi-charge on quota protesters in Jalna. Police detained two individuals in connection with the Solapur protest. The Maratha community has been demanding reservations in government jobs and educational institutions, and tensions escalated after the police dispersed a crowd at Antarwali Sarathi village in Jalna, where protesters allegedly obstructed the transfer of an activist on a hunger strike for Maratha quota to a hospital.
In a show of protest and discontent, members of the Maratha community in Solapur, Maharashtra, took to the streets, burning tyres on a service road along the Solapur-Pune highway. The demonstration, known as ‘Rasta Roko’ (road blockade), was organized in response to recent police action in Jalna.
The issue began when the police resorted to a lathi-charge and used tear gas shells to disperse a violent crowd at Antarwali Sarathi village in Jalna. The incident occurred when protesters reportedly obstructed authorities from transferring an activist on a hunger strike, demanding Maratha reservations, to a hospital.
Since then, the state of Maharashtra has witnessed a series of protests by the Maratha community, who are demanding reservations in government jobs and educational institutions.
The recent demonstration in Solapur was aimed at highlighting their demands and expressing dissatisfaction with the police response in Jalna. Upon receiving information about the protest, a police team arrived at the scene to remove the burning tyres. Subsequently, the road was reopened for vehicular movement. Two individuals were detained for further inquiry regarding their involvement in the incident.
In addition to the Solapur protest, other demonstrations and marches took place in the region as part of the ongoing movement by the Maratha community to press for their reservation demands. The issue of Maratha reservations has gained renewed prominence in the state following recent events and continued protests.