Violent protests erupt as Dhangar community demands reservations in Marathwada

Protests seeking reservations have once again turned violent in Marathwada this time Dhangar community protestors allegedly went on a rampage at the Jalna District collectorate and began attacking the government building.

On Tuesday Dhangar (shepherd) community protestors had come to the District collectorate office to give a memorandum seeking inclusion of their community in the Scheduled Tribe (ST) category. The Dhangar are characterised as OBC’s in the state, however the Dhangar community leaders claim that they are a Scheduled Tribe and are recognised as such in other states in the country and so Maharashtra too should include them in the ST status. The Dhangars are not happy with being included as OBC’s as there are several OBC communities in the state and the Dhangar community claims that they are not getting adequate benefits in the reservation.

On Thursday the Dhangar community protestors vandalised the building, wrecked and broke office chairs, and vandalised all the vehicles parked in the premises of the collectorate.



This is the second incident of violence in Maharashtra in a short span, Maharashtra was rocked by violence on October 30 after irate Maratha protestors became violent and vandalised and burnt several homes of politicians and MLAs in Marathwada.