Three more people were killed in Haryana on Monday as stone-pelting protesters clashed with army and paramilitary personnel who were trying to clear a road blockade on Ambala-Delhi National Highway.
Efforts to reopen the crucial highway failed with the protesters putting up blockade at several places between Panipat and Delhi. National Highway 1 connects Delhi with rest of north India, including Jammu and Kashmir and Punjab.
Central security personnel deployed to assist the Haryana administration are under instructions forcefully clear blockades and bring back normalcy as early as possible, a senior government official said.
So far 19 people have died and scores injured in the violence that engulfed the state over the last few days.
Protesting Jats were squatting on highways, state roads, railway tracks, canals and dams in Haryana, disrupting normal life. "The security forces were asked to use force to clear all the places where the protesters were squatting affecting communication network and water supply," the official said.
Railway link between Delhi and Ambala and beyond was also snapped due to the protests and subsequent violence by the agitating Jats, who have been demanding reservation in jobs. As road and train communication links were disrupted, there have been reports of sky rocketing airfare between Delhi and Chandigarh.
The National Highway 10 connecting Hisar, Jind and Rohtak with Delhi has also been blocked completely and instruction has been issued to clear the road too. Security forces were also asked to take strong action against anyone who indulges in violence, damaging public and private property.
At least 6,500 paramilitary forces besides Army columns were deployed to assist the Haryana government to restore peace after several days of violence. The central government was particularly anxious that despite an announcement of accepting their demands, the Jats were yet to shun violence and blockades were continuing.
On Sunday night, Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh had announced that a committee headed by Union Minister Venkaiah Naidu has been formed to look into the demand for reservation in central government jobs for Jats. Earlier, BJP general secretary Anil Jain had announced that the BJP government in Haryana will bring a legislation in the coming session of the Haryana assembly to give OBC status to the Jats.
But sources told CNN-IBN that the Haryana government will prepare a prepare a draft bill on Jat reservations only after talking to all stakeholders and that it is not committing to a time frame before the next assembly session.
Haryana Government has announced a relief of Rs 10 lakh to family of each deceased. Besides, a government job will be given to a family member and no case against innocent would be registered, Agriculture Minister O P Dhankar said.
Efforts to reopen the crucial Delhi-Ambala National Highway failed today with protesters putting up blockade at several places between Panipat and Delhi. The highway connects Delhi with North India, including Jammu and Kashmir and Punjab.
As efforts were on to clear the blockade at Larsoli between Ganaur and Murthal, two other blockades were reported from Beeswan Meel near Rai and Kamaspur near Bahalgarh with protesters taking on the security personnel. The police had used force including lathicharge on the protesters at both the places.
Incidents of violence were also reported from Kaithal where also curfew was lifted last night, but reimposed today. A large number of stick-welding protesters vandalized a mall and several shops in the violence-hit district today where army and police have been deployed.
Agitators also set afire a two-wheeler and vandalized some other vehicles in the district, officials said. Later, several members from non-Jat community took out a protest march against the administration for its alleged in providing safety to their shops and commercial establishments. They raised slogans against the administration.
A government vehicle belonging to local SDM in Meham in Rohtak district was set ablaze by protesters. Rohtak and other areas had witnessed major damage to public and private property after the Jat protest turned violent. According to reports, blockades were also lifted in Kurukshetra and Jhajjar areas.
To clear the rush of passengers, the Railways ran a special train from Chandigarh to Delhi. The train ran from Chandigarh to Anand Vihar station in Delhi and was diverted from Ambala on to Saharanpur route to reach the national capital since the mainline Ambala-Delhi rail route has still not been cleared for rail traffic, a Northern Railways spokesman said.
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