Jalna violence: ‘Call from higher-ups’ incited police action on peaceful protest, says Sharad Pawar citing agitators

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Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader Sharad Pawar met Maratha quota agitators injured in police action. On Friday, around 40 policemen and several protesters were injured and many buses set on fire during the violence that erupted here. More than 350 persons have been booked for alleged involvement in the untoward incidents.

Pawar said agitators told him "a call from the higher-ups" changed the attitude of the police at the protest site in Antarwali Sarathi on Dhule-Solapur road and action was taken despite the stir being peaceful. “Our state president Jayant Patil and MLA Rajesh Tope informed me about the incident in detail... Rajesh Tope requested me to come here as soon as possible, this incident is very serious and if people who are affected are not consoled or taken care then there are chances that the incident might spread across Maharashtra.

Therefore Jayant Patil & I decided to come here immediately and meet the people", NCP chief Sharad Pawar told news agency ANI in Jalna. Speaking to the injured persons in a local hospital in the afternoon, the NCP supremo Sharad Pawar said those seeking reservations in jobs and education for the Maratha community must do so peacefully, should exercise restrain and keep calm. Pawar, who assured them of his support, also met several agitators who are on hunger strike at the site of Friday's police action.