Clashes on Shivneri Fort

12 policemen, 20 activists injured

Fort Shivneri, where Chhatrapati Shivaji was born Image Courtesy WikiMedia

The fort of Shivneri witnessed yet another battlelike situation on Thursday as thousands of activists clashed with police. The activists of Sambhaji Bridage were demanding reservation Demonstrators demanding reservation for Maratha community. They pelted stones in the direction of helicopter carrying Maharashtra's finance minister Dilip Walse-Patil at Shivneri.

Three activists of Maratha outfit Sambhaji Brigade and a policeman are reported injured in the clashes. The orgnisation had warned the state government if the quota for their community was not announced, they would not allowed the chief minister Ashok Chavan to step his foot on the fort. When Chavan was to arrive there, the acivists turned unruly and hurled stones at the helicopter. Police lathi-charged the protesters.

Maharashtra government has declared Feb. 19th as the Shiv Jayanti, birth day of Chhatrapati Shivaji. Though organisations and parties like Shiv Sena differ on the matter and they celebrate the day as per Hindu calendar. A ceremony took place on this fort where Shivaji was born in 1627. Walse-Patil's chopper was landing when the trouble began. Officials said, Chavan's helicopter arrived there around half an hour later.

PTI has quoted Pune rural police superintendent Ravindra Kadam that although stones were thrown, they did not hit the helicopter and by the time Chavan landed, the situation had been brought under control.

Earlier, three activists of Maratha outfit Sambhaji Brigade and a policeman were injured when the police indulged in lathi charge as the protesters turned unruly and hurled stones at a government helicopter that landed before the Chief Minister's chopper in the fort.

Meanwhile, Chief Minister Chavan said that an all party meet would be convened next week to take a decision on this contentious issue. A meeting in this regard took place in Mumbai on Wednesday night and it was reported that the said agitation was called off after a promise given by Chavan.