November 2, 2023
Internet services have been suspended for 48 hours in nine tehsils of Sambhajinagar district in Maharashtra, India, due to the worsening law and order situation caused by the Maratha reservation stir. The suspension will be in effect until Friday morning and does not apply to the city area. The decision was made in response to incidents of arson, rioting, and protests in rural parts of the district. Additionally, liquor shops in the district have been ordered to remain closed on Thursday.
The Maratha community has been demanding reservation in government jobs and educational institutions since 2016. The community has held several protests and rallies in recent years to press their demands. In 2018, the Supreme Court upheld a 10% reservation for Marathas in government jobs and education, but the quota was struck down by the Bombay High Court in 2019. The Maratha community has since been demanding that the state government provide reservation for them under the Economically Weaker Section (EWS) category.
The latest round of protests began on October 26, after a Maratha youth was killed in police firing during a protest in Aurangabad district. Protests quickly spread to other parts of the state, including Sambhajinagar. On October 27, a mob of protesters attacked a police station and set fire to several vehicles in Sambhajinagar.
The state government has deployed a large number of police and paramilitary forces to Sambhajinagar district to control the situation. However, the protests have continued, and there have been reports of violence in several parts of the district.
The suspension of internet services in Sambhajinagar is an attempt to prevent the spread of rumors and misinformation, and to discourage further protests. However, it is also a restriction on the freedom of expression and the right to information. The state government must ensure that the internet services are restored as soon as possible, and that the protests are handled in a peaceful and democratic manner.
