Jat quota stir: 1 killed in police firing, Haryana minister’s house attacked

21 protestors injured, Haryana DGP said army has been called in to control the situation.

Rohtak:

One person was killed and 21 others were injured when a protest by Jats for quota turned violent here, prompting the security personnel to open fire on the rampaging mobs who attacked the house of state's Finance Minister besides indulging in arson.

Haryana DGP said army has been called in to control the situation.

The protestors who had gathered at the Rohtak bypass road of Delhi-Hisar National Highway turned violent and 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, which also attacked the nearby private residence of Haryana Finance Minister Abhimanyu.

A car parked outside the house was also set on fire by the mob, which pelted stones on the house besides attempting to set it on fire, police said.

Seeing the situation going out of control, security personnel opened fire in which one person was killed and around 21 others were injured, police said.

"There is one death of an unidentified person because of (suspected) bullet injuries," said authorities of the Post Graduate Institute of Medical Science & Hospital.

21 injured people, including one critical, have been admitted to the hospital, its authorities added.

Police and paramilitary personnel used force against protesters after they allegedly turned violent and went on rampage.

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.

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.

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.

Besides Haryana Police, personnel of Central Para Military Forces (CPMF) personnel have been deployed in various districts, including the worst affected Rohtak.

Senior civil and police officers held a meeting at the state headquarters in Chandigarh to review the situation arising out of the violence being reported from various parts of the state.

Reports of violence at various places started coming in shortly after the all party meeting convened by Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar.

The participants at the meeting besides raising the demand of reservation for Jats also appealed to people to maintain peace and law and order in the state.