03 September,2026 03:11 PM IST | Latur | mid-day online correspondent
Activist Manoj Jarange. File Pic
The Maratha community's bandh in support of activist Manoj Jarange's ongoing protest received a "strong" response across Latur district on Thursday, with Latur city witnessing a largely peaceful and silent shutdown, while protests were reported in Ausa and Nilanga.
In Latur city, schools and colleges remained closed after members of the Maratha community called for a bandh. Several shops and commercial establishments also remained shut, giving the city a subdued look, reported PTI.
The bandh was observed in solidarity with Jarange Patil's hunger strike. Jarange began his latest indefinite hunger strike at Antarwali Sarati in Jalna district on August 29, demanding reservation for the Maratha community and the immediate issuance of Kunbi certificates based on gazette records, among other demands. He has also threatened to take the agitation to Mumbai.
"The bandh received a strong response in Latur and other parts of the district," a member of the Maratha community said, reported PTI.
In Ausa, tension prevailed after members of the Maratha community climbed atop a water tank and staged a protest for around two-and-a-half hours.
The protesters raised slogans in support of Jarange and demanded that the government take immediate steps to address their demands.
The protesters had sought to meet the Ausa tehsildar and submit their demands to the administration. They eventually climbed down from the water tank around 2 pm following police intervention.
The agitation also received support from local traders, with markets, shops and other commercial establishments in Ausa remaining closed. Protesters also staged a ârasta roko' at Ausa Mode, affecting traffic movement for some time.
According to employees at the tehsil office, the Ausa tehsildar had gone to Latur to attend a meeting and was therefore unavailable.
The protesters, however, alleged that the administration was avoiding their delegation and attempting to suppress the community's voice, the news agency reported.
The protesters demanded immediate administrative intervention and warned that the agitation could be intensified if the government failed to respond to their demands.
In Nilanga, traders also extended their support to Jarange's hunger strike by keeping shops and commercial establishments closed.
Members of the Maratha community staged a ârasta roko' protest, disrupting traffic movement for some time.
(With PTI inputs)
