Student commits suicide in Mumbai over Dhangar quota demand

A 20-year man from Parbhani district of Marathwada region on Sunday allegedly committed suicide in solidarity with the demand for rise in reservation quota for the Dhangar community in the state.

A resident of Gomewakdi village of Selu tehsil, Yogesh Radhakishan Karke was a student preparing for HSC examination. He died by hanging himself from the ceiling. The incident came to light when villagers were preparing to hold a meeting over the demand to increase Dhangar reservation quota from 3.5% to 7%.

This is the first time someone from Dhangar community has committed over their demand for reservation, in the state. More than a dozen youth from the Maratha community have committed suicide, demanding 16% reservation for their community. Maratha outfits have claimed 31 suicides in the past month.

Yogesh’s father is a farmer and he belonged to a poor family. Before ending his life, he had sent a message to his friend B Shinde, saying that he is committing suicide to support the community’s demand for rise in reservation quota.

Renuka Wagle, deputy superintendent of police, Parbhani, said have recovered the message which was saved in the draft folder of Yogesh’s cell phone as it could not be sent woing to network issue. “We are investigating the case, but primarily it looks like the student took his life over the reservation demand,” Wagle said.

Dhangar (shepherd) community currently comes under the Nomadic Tribes (NT) category, which is entitled to get 3.5% reservation. It has been demanding it be included in the Scheduled Tribe (ST) category which gets 7% reservation. The state has empanelled Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS) to submit a report on the issue, which is expected by this month end.

First Published: Aug 13, 2018 04:39 IST