Haryana burns as Jat protest turns into unruly violence. President’s rule?

Television images showed mobs wielding sticks rampaging through the streets in northern Haryana state, setting fire to a local government minister’s house and railway stations, damaging train tracks and blocking two key highways.

AK Singh, a special officer, appointed with magisterial powers for Rohtak, Sonipat and Jhajjar districts, along with DGP rank officer BS Sandhu, also left for Rohtak in a government chopper.

After a night-long stalemate between Jat protesters and Army troops, whose entry in Rohtak town was prevented by digging up roads, the security forces set out on a flag march through the town.

However, the flag march comprising Army, BSF and police elements, and headed towards the Delhi highway, had to be diverted away from Gate No. 2 of Maharshi Dayanand University, where Jat students armed with iron rods and sharp-edged weapons are gathered in large numbers. The result was that the violent agitators had a field day, even torching a police station in Mahem, near Rohtak.

They also set ablaze many vehicles and buildings on Saturday. The protesters also set afire a Haryana roadways bus near Kalanaur town of the district early in the morning.

As violence spread to more areas in Haryana over the Jat quota row, the district administration on Saturday clamped curfew in Sonipat city and Gohana town of the district. The mob set fire to the branch, and the guard is trapped inside. “Some people have been killed and I offer my condolences, but the way the situation has escalated there has been severe loss to property as well”, Hooda told the media here yesterday. Despite fresh incidents of violence being reported, State Police chief Yashpal Singhal claimed that the situation had improved since Friday. Six people died and scores of others were injured as the Khattar government reacted slowly to the build up by the godman. Ten more columns are being airlifted to their respective destinations. These were either being airlifted or will reach by road.

Despite the army being deployed, the situation in Haryana continued to remain tense.

The agitation began as Jats demanded reservation for the community in government jobs and educational institutions.

Indian Air Force helicopters conducted several sorties to transport soldiers into some parts of Rohtak town. Besides demanding inquiry against police personnel found guilty in the matter, the Jat leaders also demanded status of martyr for those killed while demanding reservation for Jats.

The Delhi-Ambala railway track remained blocked since Friday evening. Hundreds of passengers were stranded as railway authorities cancelled several trains on the route. Reports said over 800 trains were cancelled because of the Haryana agitation.

Three people were killed in firing by security forces in Rohtak on Friday. “Time has come for all Haryanvis to stand united against forces that seek to create a caste division’ in the state”, said Congress spokesperson Randeep Singh Surjewala.

Mobile internet and SMS services have been shut down in riot-hit areas to halt the flow of information.