Shoot-at-sight curfew imposed
Shoot-at-sight curfew imposed
The Jat agitation in Haryana turned violent on Friday after one person died when the BSF opened fire in self-defence in Rohtak. The state government has requisitioned Army deployment in nine districts while the Centre rushed 1,000 paramilitary personnel to the state.
The protesters set a police post on fire in Jhajjhar when they went on the rampage, also setting on fire the house of state finance minister Capt. Abhimanyu Sindhu as well as several vehicles in Rohtak. Union home minister Rajnath Singh, apparently concerned with the turn of events, called up Haryana chief minister Manohar Lal Khattar to take stock of the situation. Later in the evening shoot-at-sight orders were issued in the troubled districts of Rohtak and Bhiwani where curfew has also been imposed. The police reports stated that as many as 21 people had been injured in violence.
However, authorities at the Post Graduate Institute of Medical Science & Hospital, Rohtak, said 19 of the 25 injured people admitted there had bullet injuries, PTI reported. “One person who was critical has been operated upon and his condition is now stable,” they were quoted as saying by PTI.
Army units are being rushed to Rohtak from the nearby cantonment at Hisar, about 50 km away, which would be deployed immediately in Rohtak and Bhiwani areas. Army units are also being rushed from Jaipur for deployment in other badly affected areas of the state.
One protester was killed when the paramilitary force opened fire in the city as a mob took a DSP and a few other policemen hostage and attacked the office and house of the Rohtak range IGP. Several vehicles were set on fire at the local circuit house. In Jhajjar, a police post was set ablaze at Dighal as rioting and arson gave a dangerously violent turn to the ongoing Jat agitation demanding reservation. State DGP Y.P. Singhal said their priority was to bring the situation under control in Rohtak. He said the Army was being called out in eight districts of Haryana in aid of the police as the police lines in Rohtak were also under threat.
Meanwhile, Army Chief Dalbir Singh Suhag and Union defence minister Manohar Parrikar had been contacted to deploy Army columns in Rohtak, Jhajjar, Sonepat, Bhiwani, Jind, Hisar, Kaithal and Panipat by tonight. The Haryana DGP said the security of all ministers and MLAs had been increased.
The situation got out of hand on Friday morning as Internet and mobile SMS services were suspended in six districts by the authorities to prevent spread of communally-sensitive messages. Jats have been blocking several roads in the state to press for their demand for reservation in government jobs and educational institutions under the OBC category. The situation turned riot-like after clashes between members of Jat and non-Jat communities here on Thursday evening.
The CM, meanwhile, said on Friday that the state government is in favour of reservation for Jats. He added that the state government is trying a way out. He was speaking to media persons shortly after presiding over an all-party meeting. He said leaders of various political parties have appealed to the Jats to call off their agitation.
Mr Khattar also stated that the state government would prepare a draft bill for reservation and suggestions have also been sought from all parties in this regard. He said the government has a positive approach to this demand and, if all parties agreed, the government would bring a bill in the ensuing session of the Haryana Vidhan Sabha. He said the state government had already filed an SLP in the court against the stay.
The CM said that MP Raj Kumar Saini has been asked to withdraw his statement against the Jats. If the words of Mr Saini have hurt the sentiments of the Jats, all his statements may be treated as withdrawn. Mr Saini was out of station and would take back his words as and when he returned, he added.
