Haryana Jat stir: 5 dead in firing

Clashes also broke out between non-Jats and protesters at a few places. “Two persons were brought dead in PGIMS here just an hour ago. One patient, who was critically injured, was operated upon but he died,” hospital authorities in Rohtak said on Saturday. “Another patient was brought dead at Jhajjar civil hospital with bullet injury in his head,” a Jhajjar civil hospital official said. 

Six patients with firearm injuries were referred to PGIMS. Among the five deceased, three have been identified as Parveen (Jhajjar), Krishan (Jhajjar) and Nitin (Rohtak). Around 14 patients with bullet injuries were brought for treatment at PGIMS from Rohtak and Jhajjar districts.

Earlier in the day, Army columns conducted flag marches at various places in the state and curfew was clamped in more towns to bring the situation under control. Soldiers were air-dropped on Saturday in Rohtak after the protesters blocked and dug up roads to prevent the entry of the military.

In the wake of the escalating crisis, Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh on Saturday chaired a high-level emergency meeting to discuss further course of action in the matter. Chief of Army Staff General Dalbir Singh, National Security Advisor Ajit Doval and Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar were also present. A delegation of the Jat community from Uttar Pradesh also met Rajnath Singh and urged him to take urgent steps to fulfill their demands on reservation.

Curfew was clamped in Sonipat, Gohana (Sonipat) and Jhajjar as sporadic incidents of arson continued during the night and later in the day in addition to Rohtak and Bhiwani districts where it is already in place 

and shoot-at-sight orders issued on Friday. Road and Railway traffic continued to be affected in the state due to blockades resulting in disruption of services from Delhi and beyond to Haryana, Punjab, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir and Chandigarh through various National Highways, including NH-44 (Delhi Ambala) and NH-10 (Delhi-Hissar-Fazilka). 

Several trains were cancelled by Railway authorities as well. Railway public relations officer Anil Saxena said: “This agitation has affected two zones of the railways-Northern Railways and North-Western Railways. At this point of time, we have cancelled more than 600 trains which include all passenger trains as well as mails and express trains.”

Police said some persons had pelted stones at the Jhajjar residence of Haryana minister O P Dhankar, but no one was injured in the incident.

As the violence by Jat protestors demanding quota continued unabated, Chief Minister Manohar Khattar issued a fresh appeal to the people to maintain peace and law and order, saying government would find a solution to the problem.

The administration also clamped prohibitory orders in Gurgaon for two days. Hundreds of Jat community members blocked Garhi Harsaru railway line, NH-8, Atul Kataria Chowk, Iffco Chowk and other city roads disturbing traffic throughout the day. “We have imposed Section-144 for two days. Schools will open from Monday which was earlier directed to be closed,” Gurgaon District Magistrate T L Satyaprakash said.

In Meham, a police station and some adjoining buildings were torched by the protestors. Budha Khera railway station was set ablaze in Jind district resulting in damage to furniture and official records. The railway station falls on Jind-Panipat rail route.

Prohibitory orders under Section 144 CrPC banning assembly of five or more persons and taking out of processions have been clamped in more districts including Panipat, Hissar, Jhajjar, Jind and Kaithal.

Students from the Jat community on Saturday demonstrated in Delhi University’s North Campus, demanding reservations in government jobs and educational institutions. Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal has expressed concern over the ongoing Jat agitation and discussed the issue with Rajnath Singh and Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar. Kejriwal said in a tweet that he was worried about water supply to the city.

Meanwhile, former Haryana Chief Minister B S Hooda has announced that he will go on a strike at Jantar Mantar on Sunday. He has also appealed for peace in the state. Haryana police chief Yashpal Singhal on Saturday said the situation has “improved” since Friday and the Army was out in the worst-hit areas to assist the police to help bring the situation under control.