Cops arrest over 50 MKM members

Pune: The Pune police took into its custody over 50 members of the Maratha Kranti Morcha (MKM) ahead of their march to the Assembly. The members were released by evening.

MKM members had planned to lead the march on bikes and four-wheelers to the Assembly where the winter session is underway. Although the state accepted the report of the backward commission, the MKM isn’t sure how the state will implement reservation. The MKM does not want to rely on the state’s promise as similar promises earlier have not been kept. Hence, the group planned to march to the Assembly on Monday, demanding reservation.

Against this backdrop, the Pune police Sunday night took 17 members of the MKM into custody. The members are office-bearers of MKM including Rajesh Kondhare, Swantosh Shinde, Tushar Kakade, Sangita Bhalerai, Pravin Gaiwkad, Amol Pawar, Puja Zole, Yuvraj Disale and Amol Waghmare among others. The Pune police released them Monday evening.

Shivaji Bodakhe, joint commissioner of police, Pune, said, “The Pune police took 17 MKM members into custody and they were released in the evening.”

A.S. Navale, police ins-pector, special branch, said, “The Pimpri-Chinc-hwad police also took 41 members into custody Monday morning as preventive action and they were also released in the evening.” The police also stopped many vehicles on the Pune-Mumbai expressway.