Maratha activists hurl stones at CM's chopper

Unruly scenes were witnessed today at Shivneri fort, around 100km from Pune, when Maharashta CM Ashok Chavan’s helicopter landed there on the occasion of the birth anniversary celebration of Chhatrapati Shivaji. Police cane charged demonstrators who were demanding reservation for Maratha community even as stones were pelted in the direction of Chavan’s chopper just before it landed.

Unruly scenes were witnessed on Thursday at Shivneri fort, around 100kms from Pune, when Maharashta Chief Minister Ashok Chavan’s helicopter landed there on the occasion of the birth anniversary celebration of Chhatrapati Shivaji.

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Police cane charged demonstrators who were demanding reservation for Maratha community even as stones were pelted in the direction of the chopper just before it landed on the fort, where the 16th century Maratha warrior king was born.

Pune rural police chief R Kadam told PTI that the trouble broke out before Chavan’s helicopter landed on the fort and the situation was now under control.

A policeman and two slogan shouting activists of Sambhaji Brigade were injured in the incident, police said.

Maratha organisations have been demanding reservations for their community on the lines of the OBCs.