Maharashtra bandh LIVE updates: Maratha community members call off strike in Mumbai

Maratha groups had called for a statewide bandh in Maharashtra on Tuesday (July 24) in order to demand reservation for its community members in government jobs and education. They said that the bandh will continue on Wednesday (July 25).

According to the Maratha Kranti Morcha, the bandh has also been called after a 27-year-old youth named Kakasaheb Shinde killed himself by jumping into the Godavari river. The young protestor was upset with delays by the Devendra Fadnavis government in announcing a reservation quota for the Maratha community.

Here are the LIVE updates:

• Maratha Kranti Morcha calls off Mumbai bandh.
• Due to protests train services between Thane-Vashi/Nerul have been stopped.
• Public property has been damaged in Mankhurd.

• President of Republican party has said that he supports the reservation of the Maratha community.
  

  I support #MarathaReservation demand. I appeal protesters to protest peacefully. We need to make a law in parliament and raise reservation cap from 50% to 75%, will also raise this issue in NDA: Union Minister & Republican Party of India leader Ramdas Athawale pic.twitter.com/rPBt5JRgwW

  — ANI (@ANI) July 25, 2018

• Agitators, who took to streets on Wednesday, have blocked the Eastern Expressway in Chembur.

• At least Brihanmumbai Electric Supply & Transport (BEST) buses have been damaged in Kurla, Bhandup, Andheri, Sakinaka, Kandivali, Koparkhairane and Chandivali areas of Mumbai, said News 18.
• According to a few media reports, Ola and Uber cab services have been affected in Mumbai. There is a shortage of cabs and the ones which are plying are charging the double the amount of usual fare.
• Internet services have been suspended in rural areas of Aurangabad district.
• The Sion Panvel highway has been blocked by protesters.

• Clashes took place in Udgir in Latur district of Maharashtra.

• Protestors have blocked a local train in Thane.

• In a few places like Bandra, agitators have requested have requested shopkeepers to shut down their stores.
  

  Mumbai: A group of Maratha Kranti Morcha workers request with folded hands, the shopkeepers in Bandra to shut their shops. #MaharashtraBandh pic.twitter.com/zVcHM6b3WV

  — ANI (@ANI) July 25, 2018

• Violence erupts in Maharashtra despite cops urging agitators to maintain peace.

• Workers of Maratha Kranti Morcha are forcefully shutting down shops.
  "We are not blocking any road. We are carrying out a peaceful protest. We have told our workers that there should be no inconvenience to the police or govt due to our protest. We are asking people to shut down their shops," ANI quoted Maratha Kranti Morcha worker as saying.

• A Thane Municipal Transport (TMT) bus vandalised in Wagle estate area of Thane, reported ANI.

• Visuals of protest for Maratha reservations in Maharashtra.

• BJP leader Vinod Tawde has also said that efforts are being made to maintain law and order in the state.

• Police have asked the agitators to maintain peace. DCP Deepak Deoraj the PRO of Mumbai Police added that all necessary deployments have been put in place. vigilance teams have been also deployed and  instructed to keep a watch at "sensitive" pockets. "We have told them to protest peacefully," Indian Express quoted Deoraj as saying.
• The Maratha Kranti Morcha organisers said on Tuesday that they will continue to protest on Wednesday (July 25).
• Shiv Sena's Deepak Kesarkar has asked the protestors to refrain from engaging in violence.
  

  I appeal to the people,please maintain peace we can solve it by a peaceful dialogue,15 lakh pilgrims are in Pandharpur for Wari,they should not face problems in going back to their homes:Deepak Kesarkar, MoS #Maharastra on violence erupted over the demand of Maratha reservation pic.twitter.com/sy8E1z4HdS

  — ANI (@ANI) July 24, 2018

• Violence has erupted ion Maharashtra. While a fire brigade vehicle was torched in Aurangabad, a police jeep was set on fire  in Hingoli, reported India.com.
• Maratha Kranti Morcha workers shaved their head as part of the protest.

• After Shinde, two more people have tried to kill themselves in  Maharashtra on Tuesday.
  "Two people attempted suicide in Maharashtra today. Jayant Sonavne attempted suicide by jumping into river and Jagannath Sonavne alias Guddu consumed poison in Deogaon Rangari in Aurangabad.They're in hospital," ANI reported.
• According to TV reports, another man, who is protesting for reservations for Maratha community people in government jobs and education has jumped into a river.
• However, it seems that the Maharashtra bandh is taking a toll on commoners.

• The protestors have assured that they will not disrupt public transport and emergency services from operating.
• The DM also said that the government has accepted most of the demands of Maratha Kranti Morcha.

• Meanwhile the DM of Aurangabad has said that a compensation of Rs 10 lakh will be provided to the deceased's youth's kin.

• Protestors continue to agitate for the Maratha youth's death.

•  The protesters took to streets in several parts of Maharashtra, demanding justice for Shinde. They have also sought a compensation of Rs 50 lakh for Shinde's family
• Maratha groups are claiming that Fadnavis' government is responsible for Shinde's death