Police justify usage of force, Jalna SP sent on compulsory leave as restrictions imposed in violence-hit areas
A large number of outfits protested on Saturday in Nashik against police action on Maratha quota agitators a day earlier in Jalna.
Jalna violence: A day after violence erupted in Maharashtra's Jalna over the Maratha quota demand in which around 40 policemen and several protesters got injured and many buses were set on fire, Jalna SP Tushar Dosshi was sent compulsory leave and IPS Shailesh Balkawade was given the charge of the violence-hit region on Sunday.
Restrictions imposed
Meanwhile, Section 37 (3) of the Maharashtra Police Act has been implemented in Jalna and Aurangabad, said police officials.
This restriction will be implemented in the entire Satara district from September 4 to 17.
According to Section 37 (3) of the Maharashtra Police Act, if 5 or more people gather at one place without any valid reason, legal action will be taken against them.
Police defend lath-charge
Special IGP Aurangabad Range Dnyaneshwar Chavan said police used justified force to disperse the violent mob as they attacked the security forces in which over 60 personnel got injured.
"...Manoj Jarange's health started deteriorating who had sat on the hunger strike...When the Additional SP & SDM convinced him for medical treatment, the crowd present there started pelting stones. During this stone-pelting our police staff was injured. A total of 21 women officers & 43 jawans were injured. A total of 64 officers were injured. To disperse the violent mob we used the justified force...40 protestors have been arrested. Buses have been burnt & we are investigating it. The additional force has been deployed...We are on watch & we are careful and cautious...," says Spl. IGP Aurangabad Range Dnyaneshwar Chavan on the Jalna incident.
Uddhav demands quota for Marathas
Shive Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray on Saturday demanded the Centre provide reservations to Marathas and OBCs in the special session of Parliament convened later this month, a day after violence erupted in Jalna.
Thackeray visited Jalna in the evening and demanded the resignation of Home Minister Devendra Fadnavis. He reiterated that the Centre should bring in a law that would enable reservation for the Maratha community and cases against the protestors should be dropped.
Earlier in the day while addressing Shiv Sena (UBT) workers in Mumbai, Thackeray slammed the "government brutality" of police baton charging the protestors seeking reservation for Marathas in Jalna on Friday evening.
"How can police behave in a way without the directions from someone," he asked.
Violence in Jalna
On Friday, police baton charged and lobbed tear gas shells to disperse protesters in Antarwali Sarathi on Dhule-Solapur road in Jalna's Ambad tehsil after they allegedly refused to let authorities shift a man on hunger strike for Maratha quota to hospital.
Referring to the National Capital Territory of Delhi (Amendment) Act 2023, Thackeray said when the Supreme Court gave a ruling against the Centre, it passed a law in Parliament.
"I had condemned the government's decision to convene a special session (of Parliament). But I welcome it, but first give reservation to Marathas, Dhangars (shepherd community) and OBCs in this special session," the former chief minister said in Mumbai.
He hit out at Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and his deputies Devendra Fadnavis and Ajit Pawar, saying no one from the government had time to meet the agitators in Jalna.
Thackeray termed the Centre as "anti-Hindu" as it has convened the special sitting of Parliament from September 18 to 22 during the Ganesh festival.
At Jalna, he demanded the resignation of Fadnavis, who holds the Home portfolio.
"I have never seen a dispensation as cruel as the incumbent one," Thackeray said as he hit out at the ruling dispensation comprising Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena, BJP, and NCP (Ajit Pawar) faction.
He said if protestors are touched, "the entire Maharashtra will be in Jalna standing behind the agitators".
During his Mumbai speech, Thackeray also said those who don't believe in the family system should not talk about the families of others.
"Family system is the Hindu tradition. First, handle your family and then talk about others' families," he said without taking names.
After the end of the third meeting of the INDIA bloc in Mumbai on Friday, Thackeray had said the opposition alliance will fight and defeat "mitra parivarvad".
(With PTI/Reporter inputs)