Jalna:The Maratha community today took out a huge ‘silent protest march’ (“Muk Morcha”) at Jalna town in Marathwada region of Maharashtra.

Thousands of people took part in the morcha.

The community, which is pre-dominant in the Maharashtra politics, has been taking out silent marches in various towns in the state over the last one month, following the rape and murder of a girl in Kopardi, Ahmednagar district, two months ago.

The victim girl was a Maratha, while the culprits were Dalits.

The community leaders have been demanding scrapping of the the SC, ST (Prevention of Atrocities Act) saying that it is grossly misused, and also reservations for Marathas in educational institutes and government jobs.

PTI