Protesters vandalize and damage vehicles during a pro caste quota protest in Rohtak, Friday, Feb. 19, 2016. APRohtak (Haryana): Army was deployed in nine districts of Haryana and curfew was imposed in two districts along with shoot-at-sight orders after one person died and 25 were injured during the Jat stir for quota which turned violent with mobs resorting to widespread arson.
The Centre also rushed 3,300 personnel of paramilitary forces as rampaging mobs held some policemen captive besides setting ablaze the house of state's Finance Minister Abhimanyu and several government and private properties in Rohtak, Jhajjar, Hansi and several other parts of the state.
The agitators, who are seeking reservation under Economically Backward Classes, also targeted police and private vehicles, buildings housing offices, including two Toll Plazas at Hansi in Hissar district and near Rohtak, both located on the Delhi-Hisar-Fazilka National Highway.
One protestor was killed in Rohtak when the BSF personnel opened fire in "self-defence" after someone from the rampaging mob fired at and injured a BSF jawan, Haryana DGP Yashpal Singhal told a press conference in Chandigarh.
Since the situation was going out of control, army has been called in for deployment in eight worst-affected districts -- Rohtak, Jhajjar, Jind, Bhiwani, Hissar, Kaithal, Panipat and Sonipat, the state police chief said.
Army is also being rushed to Karnal, army sources said in Delhi, while informing that nine columns are being sent altogether.
Tonight, curfew was imposed in city limit areas of Rohtak and Bhiwani city limit areas, an official spokesman told PTI.
The agitation, which has been going on for last few days, escalated and turned violent soon after an all-party meeting held by Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar issued an appeal for calling it off.
The protesters rejected the appeal even as Khattar gave an assurance that a solution will be worked out to extend reservation to the community.
Army units were being rushed to Rohtak from nearby Cantonment at Hissar, about 50 kms away, the official spokesman said, adding these will be deployed immediately in Rohtak and Bhiwani areas.
He said army units are also being rushed from Jaipur for deployment in other worst-affected areas of the state.
The army will assist the civil administration in restoring peace and law and order which worsened today shortly after an all party meeting here where an appeal was made for maintaining peace.
Two senior civil and police officers - Principal Secretary (Home) A.K. Singh and ADGP of Haryana Police B.S. Sandhu - have been rushed to Rohtak to coordinate with the army and the civil administration to restore normalcy.
The camp office of BJP MLA Manish Grover in Rohtak was also set on fire.
Protesters run some with sticks during a pro caste quota protest in Rohtak, Haryana, Friday, Feb. 19, 2016. APAuthorities in Post Graduate Institute of Medical Science & Hospital, Rohtak, said 19 of the 25 injured people admitted there had bullet injuries.
"One person who was critical has been operated upon and his condition is now stable," they said.
Besides stationing Principal Secretary (Home) A.K. Singh and ADGP B.S. Sandhu at Rohtak, government has rushed six other senior IPS officers to other districts. They are Paramjit Singh Ahlawat (Sonipat), B.K. Sinha (Jind), K.K. Rao (Jhajjar), P.K. Aggarwal (Bhiwani), O.P. Singh (Kaithal) and K.K. Sindhu (Panipat).
The main impact of the Jats' agitation is in various districts of the state including Rohtak, Jhajjar, Bhiwani, Hissar, Fatehabad, Karnal, Jind, Yamuna Nagar, Sirsa and Gurgaon where road transport has come to a halt.
Today, for the first time, the rail and road traffic on the Delhi Ambala National Highway and mainline railway route was also blocked by protestors at various places including in Sonipat district.
A number of local, short distance and long distance trains, including Kalka Chandigarh Delhi Shatabdi have been cancelled in view of the Jats agitation.
The DGP said police personnel were taken captive by the large number of protestors at some places including Rohtak and the cops were unable to perform their duties.
In Rohtak, the protesters set on fire the residence of Finance Minister Abhimanyu, police said, adding a car parked outside the house was also set on fire.
In view of this incident, security in and around the residences of ministers and legislators has been beefed up, officials said.
The protesters, who had gathered at the Rohtak bye-pass road of Delhi Hissar National Highway, also allegedly attacked police vehicles which were parked there in which window panes were damaged, officials said.
The security personnel deployed there had to use force, including firing, to control the violent mob.
The Circuit House and the office of Inspector General of Police (IGP), Rohtak. were also attacked by the protestors who pelted stones on the buildings. A car parked at the IGP office was also damaged, officials said.
A police vehicle and some private vehicles, including a two wheeler, were also set on fire.
The scooter of a person who was taking a sick to a local hospital was also set on fire by the protestors.
Elsewhere in various places in the state, protestors deflated tyres of cars of a number of people trying to travel on various National and State Highways in the state.
Haryana Roadways has suspended its local and inter-state bus services in the affected districts.
Mobile internet services have also been suspended in various districts including Rohtak and Jhajjar.
Meanwhile, reacting to protests by Jat community, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal accused the BJP of playing "caste politics" and dividing Haryana between Jats and non-Jats.
Haryana- pl maintain peace. BJP is playing caste politics dividing Haryana into Jats n non-Jats. Pl don't fall into BJP's trap n stay united
— Arvind Kejriwal (@ArvindKejriwal) February 19, 2016
Rajnath Singh speaks to Haryana CM
The Centre rushed 3300 paramilitary personnel to Haryana and assured Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar of all possible help to maintain law and order as the Jat stir for quota turned violent in the state.
3300 paramilitary personnel have been sent to assist the state government in maintaining law and order as there been several incidents of violence in Haryana following the Jat agitation demanding quota, a Home Ministry official said.
Concerned over the volatile situation, Home Minister Rajnath Singh called up the Haryana Chief Minister, who briefed him about the prevailing situation in the state.
The Home Minister also assured the Chief Minister all possible help to the state government in controlling the situation, the official said.
Singh later appealed to the people to maintain peace and order and stressed on the need for discussion and dialogue.
He also condoled the death of a protestor on Friday.
"I appeal to my brothers and sisters of Haryana to maintain peace and order in the state," Singh said in a tweet.
My deepest condolence to the family of the individual who got killed in Haryana violence today.
— Rajnath Singh (@BJPRajnathSingh) February 19, 2016
"The incident of violence in certain parts of Haryana is very unfortunate. In a democracy solution to any problem lies in discussion &dialogue," he added.
Jat leaders reject appeal of political parties to call off protest
Jat leaders on Friday rejected an appeal by political parties in Haryana to call off their quota protest even as Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar gave an assurance that a solution will be worked out to extend reservation to the community.
The appeal to the Jat leaders was made by the parties at a meeting convened by Khattar to discuss the demands of the community and find a way out to end the impasse.
However, the agitators refused to withdraw their protest till a legislation is passed giving quota to the community under OBC category and accused Khattar of having "casteist mentality" saying he did not belong to the community.
Meanwhile, mobile Internet and SMS services were suspended indefinitely by the authorities in violence-hit Rohtak in the wake of the agitation spreading in the district.
Trains on the Delhi-Ambala and Hisar-Dhuri routes were hit as the protesters squatted on railway tracks as part of their plan to intensify the stir.
"The political parties have appealed to the agitating Jats to call off their protest to maintain peace and harmony in the state.
"Our first priority is that the Jat agitation should end today and peace maintained in the state. A way will be worked out to give reservation to Jats," Khattar said after the meeting.
He said blocking roads and hampering rail services were not the "right way" to hold an agitation.
Normal life has been severely affected in various parts of Haryana with the agitation hitting supply of essential commodities like milk, vegetables, LPG and petroleum products.
"Supplies of petroleum products are hit in Rohtak, Bhiwani and Jind due to the agitation," an official said.
"Some of the fuel pumps in these districts have even gone dry. Similarly, the supply of LPG cylinders has also been affected in these areas," the official said.
Asked about BJP MP Raj Kumar Saini's remarks against Jat quota, Khattar said Kurukshetra MP's statement "should be considered as withdrawn".
Saini had earlier expressed objection over giving reservation to Jats and had even threatened to resign if there was "any loss" to reservation quota for OBCs.
Disclaimer
The comments posted here/below/in the given space are not on behalf of Manorama. The person posting the comment will be in sole ownership of its responsibility. According to the central government's IT rules, obscene or offensive statement made against a person, religion, community or nation is a punishable offense, and legal action would be taken against people who indulge in such activities.