Pro-Maratha quota protesters block Mumbai-Bengaluru Highway, traffic affected

Pro-Maratha quota protesters on Tuesday blocked the Mumbai-Bengaluru Highway in Pune city of Maharashtra and burnt tyres to press for the demand for reservation, police said.

Members of the Maratha community have been staging protests in different parts of the state seeking reservation in government jobs and education under the Other Backward Classes (OBC) category.

"A group of protesters blocked the road at Navale bridge on the Mumbai-Bengaluru Highway this afternoon, shouted slogans and set seven to eight tyres on fire," an official from Sinhgad Road police station said.

The movement of vehicles was initially stopped in both lanes and was partially restored later, he said.

"We have increased security outside the houses and offices of political leaders belonging to the Maratha community," Deputy Commissioner of Police (Special Branch) Raja Ramaswami said.

Several organisations held agitations in support of the Maratha quota in different parts of the city.

The Maratha quota agitation has turned violent at several places in the state with protesters vandalising the houses of politicians from the ruling parties in different parts of the state. A curfew has been imposed in Dharashiv district and parts of Beed district after large-scale violence and arson.

Maratha quota activist Manoj Jarange has been continuing his indefinite fast in support of the reservation demand at Antarwali Sarati village in Jalna district since October 25.