Akola: In a deeply distressing incident that has reignited Maharashtra’s ongoing reservation debate, Vijay Bochare, a 58-year-old OBC activist and district secretary of the Mahatma Jyotiba Phule Mali Seva Sanghatana, allegedly died by suicide early Thursday morning in Akola district. The activist reportedly took the extreme step over the state government’s decision to use the Hyderabad Gazetteer as a reference for determining the Kunbi status of the Maratha community — a move he believed would jeopardize the rights and future of the Other Backward Classes (OBC).
Bochare’s body was found hanging under a shed at the Alegaon main bus stand in Patur tehsil. Police officials recovered a handwritten note and his mobile phone from the scene. Hours before his death, he had reportedly posted an emotional WhatsApp status addressed to Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and several OBC leaders, accusing the government of abandoning the OBC cause.
In his final note, Bochare wrote, “You have abandoned the OBCs. The government’s decision has endangered our reservation. Even the Bombay High Court has dismissed OBC petitions, leading to hopelessness among us.” Expressing despair, he continued, “Our children’s future is ruined. From the position of a simple sarpanch to higher offices, no opportunities remain. There is no meaning left in this life.”
He also made an appeal to the Chief Minister to protect the OBC reservation and immediately conduct a caste census. “Please ensure OBC reservation remains intact. Jai OBC, Jai Samvidhan,” he wrote in the note that has since gone viral on social media.
Before taking his life, Bochare posted a heartfelt WhatsApp status urging senior OBC leaders such as Chhagan Bhujbal, Balasaheb Hake, Sasane, and Waghmare to unite and fight for the community’s cause. “OBC reservation must be protected. We must stay united. I feel our reservation has ended, our children have no future, and life has lost its purpose,” his message read.
His words resonated across the OBC community, sparking widespread grief and outrage. Within hours, hundreds of villagers and members of the Mali community gathered at the site, demanding justice and government assurance that the OBC quota would not be diluted. Protesters refused to allow police to remove the body until authorities gave a written commitment on the issue.
The tragedy triggered protests across Alegaon and nearby villages, as community members accused the government of negligence and insensitivity toward OBC concerns. Bochare had long been an active voice in organizations like Samata Parishad and Vanchit Bahujan Aghadi, consistently advocating for social justice and equal representation for backward communities.
Local MLA Nitin Deshmukh and several OBC leaders rushed to the scene, demanding immediate government intervention. “This is not an isolated case of despair — it reflects the fear and frustration that the OBC community is feeling today,” said Deshmukh.
An accidental death report has been filed at Channi Police Station. SDPO Gajanan Padgham (Balapur Division) stated, “We have recovered a handwritten note expressing distress over the OBC reservation issue. Preliminary investigation suggests that the deceased was under mental distress due to ongoing uncertainty over the community’s rights. The letter and phone have been sent for forensic analysis.”
Akola District Collector Varsha Meena visited the site and met Bochare’s grieving family. “This is a deeply tragic incident. I have assured the family that their demands — including caste census and clarity on reservation — will be conveyed directly to the Chief Minister. The administration stands with them in this difficult time,” she said.
Maya Iratkar, Vidarbha Women’s President of Samata Parishad, criticized the government’s lack of clarity, saying, “The death of an activist like Vijay Bochare highlights the state’s failure to protect OBC interests. The Chief Minister must urgently address the community’s concerns before more lives are lost to hopelessness.”
Family members revealed that Bochare had been deeply disturbed for days. His brother, Purushottam Bochare, told reporters, “He was constantly worried about the injustice being done to OBCs. He felt betrayed and lost hope completely.”
Local residents echoed the sentiment, stating that the government’s conflicting stance on the Maratha-Kunbi issue had created fear among OBCs. “The uncertainty surrounding reservation policies has led to frustration and despair. Vijay’s death has shaken us all,” said local resident Dilip Kalpande.
Political observers note that the incident could deepen tensions between the two influential communities, forcing the state to confront the growing discontent among OBCs.
