India, Aug. 29 -- A 40-year-old activist, who was travelling with Maratha quota movement leader Manoj Jarange and his supporters to Mumbai, died of a heart attack near Junnar in Pune district on Thursday, police said.

The activist, identified as Satish Deshmukh from Beed district, was part of the convoy accompanying Jarange for his protest in Mumbai, where the latter is scheduled to begin an indefinite hunger strike at Azad Maidan on August 29 to press for reservation.

"It is unfortunate that one of our colleagues passed away. Had the government been considerate of our demands, this situation would not have occurred," said Jarange.

According to a senior Pune rural police officer, Deshmukh complained of chest pain near Lenyadri in Junna...