Maratha quota stir: Internet services suspended in Pune district

Internet services were suspended in Maharashtra's Pune district today to prevent rumour-mongering in view of the Maratha quota agitation, police said.

Superintendent of Police (SP) Sandip Patil told PTI the Internet services were temporarily suspended in Baramati, Shirur, Khed, Junnar, Maval, Bhor and Daund rural tehsils of the district.

The step was taken to prevent any untoward incident after violent protests were witnessed during the Maratha community's protest for reservation last month, he said.

Chakan, an industrial hub located in Khed tehsil, witnessed large-scale violence during the Maratha quota agitation on July 30, when around 70 buses were torched and damaged in the area.

Patil said there was no information of any untoward incident in the district so far.

The agitators held a sit-in protest outside the residence of Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) chief Sharad Pawar in Baramati today.

The Sakal Maratha Samaj, an umbrella body of Maratha groups, has called for a "bandh" today across Maharashtra, except Navi Mumbai, over the community's demand for reservation in government jobs and education.

Over 7,000 police personnel have been deployed in the city, along with some companies of the State Reserve Police Force and Rapid Action Force, to maintain law and order, Pune Commissioner of Police Venkatesham K said.

He added that the pro-reservation Maratha groups had earlier said they would stage peaceful protests at the collector's office. Read complete Article