CHHATRAPATI SAMBHAJINAGAR/KOLHAPUR: Members of the Maratha community intensified their agitations across the state on Thursday.Three suicides, which Maratha community members claim are linked to the quota demand, were reported during the day. However, the police are yet to confirm if the deaths really were in protest against the delay in granting Maratha reservation. The first suicide was reported from Hingolis Deojhana village. Krushna Kalynakar, a 25-year-old tractor driver, allegedly ended his life by hanging himself. An unsigned note found in his pocket stated he was taking the extreme step for the Maratha reservation cause, said the police. The second incident was reported from Antarwarli Tembhi village in Jalna. Shivaji Mane, 45, also hanged himself. Community members here said he ended his life for quota demand. The third incident was reported from Apatgaon in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar district. Here, 26-year-old Ganesh Kuber ended his life by hanging. Police found a slate on which Maratha reservation was written as the reason for Kubers extreme step.Jarange, who has started a fast-unto-death in Jalnas Antarvali Sarati, said: "The state government has made a mockery of the community. We had trusted the government would fulfil its promise within the mutually agreed-upon time. That did not happen." Jarange refused to get examined by a team of doctors from the government hospital, saying he would not take any medical treatment till the Maratha reservation demand was met. In many villages, protesters put up banners banning the entry of politicians. Vaijapur assembly constituencys Shiv Sena MLA Ramesh Bornare was the latest to face heat from Maratha agitators, who stopped his vehicle on the road. In Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, some men climbed the terrace of the district collector office. Other agitators even blocked key roads, including the Nanded-Hyderabad highway. In Kolhapur, the Sakal Maratha Samaj protested at Chhatrapati Shivaji chowk and said the state government had cheated the Maratha community.Slogans of Narendra Modi go back. Fraudulent Government Go Back were raised. "Thursdays protest is a trailer. Guardian minister Hasan Mushrif will not be allowed to enter Kolhapur," warned the Maratha community coordinator Adv. Baba Indulkar. Shiv Sena Kolhapur coordinator Vijay Devane added: "We urge more villages to ban the entry of politicians."A meeting of all the Maratha coordinators of Kolhapur city and villages will be held on Saturday at Rajarshi Shahu Smarak Bhawan.

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