One person has been killed in police firing at Haryana’s Rohtak, where protesters demanding Jat quota burnt vehicles, blocked traffic and even attacked a minister’s home. Mobile internet services have been blocked in that part of the state.
The protesters also set on fire the house of Haryana minister Capt Abhimanyu, who was not inside. Another house was also burnt. Police did not confirm the toll, while the melee grew bigger despite efforts by the government.
Jat leaders earlier on Friday refused to withdraw their agitation till a legislation is passed giving quota to the community under the Other Backward Classes (OBC) category even as the authorities in the worst-affected district suspended Internet and SMS services due to the stir which has disrupted rail and road traffic.
“Internet and SMS services have been suspended till further orders in Rohtak,” Rohtak SP Shashank Anand said in Friday.
The decision has been taken “to maintain law and order” in the district, he said.
However, he said mobile services will continue in the district.
Normal life has been badly hit because of the ongoing agitation which has spread to more parts of the state after talks between the community leaders and the government failure to break the deadlock.
The protests have disrupted road and rail traffic with the worst hit being the Rohtak-Jhajjar region, the epicentre of the protests, besides Bhiwani, Sonipat and Hisar.
The protesters, who have rejected Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar’s offer of enhancing quota for economically backward classes, also set up road blockade at many places in Panipat, which also affected movement of vehicles towards Uttar Pradesh.
“We are not going to withdraw our agitation till our demand is met. We will intensify our agitation in other parts of the state, including Panchkula and Yamunanagar,” All India Jat Aarakshan Sangharsh Samiti’s national president Yashpal Malik said. “We want BJP government in Haryana to bring a legislation in the upcoming budget session to include Jats in OBC category. They should bring a law in the Assembly with regard to Jat reservation and get it passed,” he said.
