Concerned about various ongoing protests that different communities have organised across the state, the home department has asked the police to maintain caution about the same. On Sunday alone, the state witnessed protests that the Maratha community had organised in Thane and Chiplun, and a different protest that people from the scheduled caste and scheduled tribe communities held in Nanded.

The police has deployed additional forces in various parts of the state in the backdrop of these protests. “The law and order situation is under control and the police is alert. The Maratha protests are ‘silent’ and hence there has not been a single untoward incident with regard to them. But the local police force has been asked to remain cautious about anti-social elements who might disturb the law and order situation. Additional police forces have been deployed in various parts of the state to tackle any emergency,” said a senior police officer.

The police is also keeping an eye on social media websites, through which various messages on ongoing social issues are being forwarded. “We monitor social media too, since it is the easiest tool for spreading rumours. We also request people to not forward any message without properly confirming it,” the officer said. Internet services were recently discontinued in Nashik after a minor was sexually abused there, which led to angry locals taking to the streets.

The Maratha community’s rallies, meanwhile, started from Aurangabad last month. The OBC, SC and ST communities have also led protests in the past few days, pressing for their demands. The police is trying to ensure that no one misuses these rallies to give birth to communal tension.

The state government took a few decisions last week to pacify the various protestors. It has, for instance, given a fee waiver to economically backward students from all communities in the backdrop of the protests.