Latur (Maharashtra): A 35-year-old Other Backward Class activist from Latur district ended his life by jumping into the Manjara river, reportedly expressing fears that the Maharashtra government's recent decision on Maratha reservations would adversely affect the OBC quota, police said.
Bharat Mahadev Karad of Wangdari village in Renapur taluka took the extreme step around yesterday after participating in OBC reservation protests for several years.
According to the Latur Superintendent of Police, Karad left behind a suicide note saying that he had been actively involved in the OBC Bachao Andolan but felt that the government had betrayed the OBC community through its implementation of the Hyderabad Gazette for the Maratha community.
The deceased, who worked as an autorickshaw driver, is survived by his wife and four children. His family owns marginal agricultural land, indicating their poor economic condition.
Police sources confirmed that witnesses saw Karad jump into the Manjara. His clothes were found near the riverbank. In the suicide note discovered at the spot, Karad wrote that he was ending his life so that his sacrifice would ensure justice for his community.
The suicide note has been sent to forensic experts for verification and handwriting analysis.
The tragic incident has created unrest across the Marathwada region, with anger spreading among the OBC community following the state government's government resolution accepting the Hyderabad Gazette as the basis for granting Kunbi status to Marathas.
Karad believed this resolution would completely eliminate reservations for OBCs, according to his family members.
State Minister for Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Protection Chhagan Bhujbal, a senior OBC leader, immediately took note of the incident and cancelled all his scheduled programmes.
Bhujbal announced he would travel to Latur by special flight from Nashik today and visit Wangdari village to meet the deceased's family members.
Through social media, Bhujbal described the incident as heartbreaking and appealed to the OBC youth not to take such extreme steps, saying there are constitutional and legal remedies available for addressing OBC reservation concerns.
He emphasised that justice will be done through the constitution and law.
Witnesses who saw Karad jump into the river claimed he shouted slogans in favour of OBC quota before taking the fatal step. A case has been registered and police investigation is underway.
