Section 144 has been imposed.
The vortex of violence regarding Maratha quota agitation continues unabated in various parts of Maharashtra. On Monday, it was the industrial area of Chakan near Pune which felt the heat of the violence. The agitators torched as many as 25 buses and pelted stones at the police in which some officers including a deputy superintendent of police have sustained injuries.
In order to support the Maratha quota agitation, some groups from Khed taluka had given a call of Khed bandh on Monday. Following the call of bandh, some groups from Maratha community had gathered at industrial area of Chakan, 35 kilometers away from Pune. The agitators held a rally in Chakan area in the morning at around 11 am.
During the rally, the protesters forced shopkeepers to close down the shops. The protesters went on to close the Pune- Nashik highway. While the police were having dialogues with the protesters to clear the highway, some of the protesters pelted stones at public transport buses and then the mob went on a rampage. A senior police officer from Pune rural police said, "As the agitators turned violent, they started damaging the properties including some shops, private vehicles and public transport buses. The protesters went on torching some public transport buses also."
Sensing the gravity of the situation, additional force was pressed into the area. A quick response team and strike force were also sent to the affected area to control the situation. Senior police officers including the superintendent of police (Pune Rural) Sandeep Patil also rushed to Chakan.
"The agitating mob targeted the vehicles parked near Chakan police and torched them. They also damaged some vehicles on the highway," Patil said. Soon the heat of the Chakan violence spread in the nearby Rajgurunagar area also. "As the police were controlling the mob in Chakan area, the mob went on rampage at Rajgurunagar. Nearly 300 to 400 people had gathered at the Rajgurunagar police station but police officials tackle the situation carefully," Patil said.
While the mob was gathering in large number, the police had to restore to lathi charge and at some places, they had to fire tear gas to disperse the violent mob.
The angry mob pelted stones at police in which some police officers including a deputy superintendent of police and senior police inspector sustained injuries. By Monday afternoon, the situation could be brought under control. "The situation is tensed but under control. We have deployed heavy police force in the area," the senior police officer said.
Meanwhile, section 144 has been imposed to prevent unlawful assembly. district collector Naval Kishor Ram said, "Initially the rally was peaceful but as the rally was coming to an end, it suddenly turned violent where some agitators torched some buses. Now we have imposed a section 144 and the situation is under control."
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