Dhule, August 10: One person was killed and 20 others injured when police opened fire on a crowd of koli community members who attacked Deputy Collector’s office here in North Maharashtra today, police said.
A `morcha’ of koli (fisherfolk) community in support of their demands turned violent while waiting to submit their memorandum. Its members pelted stones at policemen and damaged three state transport buses, they said.
A couple of policemen were injured in the stone pelting.
Koli members also ransacked Deputy Collector’s office.
Police used canes and opended fire to control the violent mob.
One person was killed and 20 injured in the firing, police said. The injured have been admitted to Dhule Civil Hospital.
District Collector and Superintendent of Police have rushed to the spot.
The morcha was organised to demand, among other things, reservation in jobs and education for kolis. Shiv Sena leader Anant Tare and koli community representative Nanabhau Sonawane were spearheading the morcha.
Community members from Dhule and neighbouring Nandurbar districts had taken out the morcha.
—Agencies