Maratha quota stir: Injured protester dies in hospital

Aurangabad: Maratha Kranti activists go on rampage as they stage a demonstration to press for a Maratha quota, in Aurangabad on July 24, 2018. A policemen and two others were injured as the campaign for a Maratha quota turned violent here even as protests were held in different parts of Maharashtra. A large number of protestors torched a fire brigade vehicle near Kaigaon in Aurangabad district. A fire brigade vehicle was torched in Aurangabad and a police jeep was set ablaze in Hingoli. (Photo: IANS)


A protester, who got injured in the violence during the Maratha quota stir in Navi Mumbai, succumbed to his injuries on Thursday. He was undergoing treatment at the government-run JJ Hospital in Mumbai.

According to reports, 25-year-old Rohan Todkar had sustained multiple injuries on his head, hands and legs during the violence at Kopar Khairane on Wednesday.

On Thursday, Rohan was shifted to the JJ Hospital and was kept in the intensive care unit.

The agitation by Marathas, who are demanding OBC status for reservation in jobs and education, turned violent and around 20 policemen, including eight officers, were injured in stone-pelting by protesters at Kopar Khairane and Kalamboli in Navi Mumbai on Wednesday.

Over 150 vehicles, including 20 belonging to police, were damaged in the violence.

Nine persons were injured when police caned protesters and fired pellets and rubber bullets on the violent mob, police had said.

Meanwhile, five MLAs from different political parties have so far resigned over the Maratha quota demand.

Bharat Bhalke (Congress), Rahul Aher (BJP) and Dattatraya Bharne (NCP) resigned as legislators on Thursday.

Bhalke, who represents Pandharpur in Solapur district, said he was resigning to express solidarity with quota protests.

Earlier, Harshvardhan Jadhav (Shiv Sena) and Bhausaheb Patil Chikatgaonkar (NCP) from Aurangabad district had submitted their resignations to the Assembly Speaker.

(With agency inputs)