In view of the call for Jat reservation agitation likely commencing from June 5 in various districts of Haryana, the State Police Department has stopped granting leave of all kinds except in emergent cases till further orders.
A written communication to this effect has been sent to all Commissioners of Police, District Superintendents, Additional Inspector General, Traffic, Superintendents of Police, Commando, Newal, Karnal, Superintendent of Police, Railways, Ambala Cantt. and Superintendent of Police, Telecommunications, Moginand and Commandants of Haryana Armed Police and India Reserve Battalion by Inspector General of Police, Administration, A S Chawla.
Haryana Additional Director General of Police, Mohammad Akil on Thursday said that the police is fully geared up to meet any eventuality. The police and district administration would maintain law and order and safety of the people would be ensured, said he.He added that those individuals or group of people found trying to vitiate the peaceful atmosphere directly or indirectly would invite stern action against themselves.
Akil said that the Police Department would keep a vigil on anti-social elements. He said that those found indulged in spreading rumours or vitiating peaceful atmosphere would be dealt with sternly.
He said that the police and the district administration would make the people understand that in case their children indulged in damaging public or private property, they would invite stern action against themselves, which could also adversely affect their future.
The Duty Magistrates have been deputed. Help of public representatives and Gram Panchayats was being sought to maintain peace, he added.
He said that there was neither shortage of police force nor of the equipment in maintaining law and order. The police would not tolerate any act to block road or rail. The police officers were holding meetings with responsible citizens to maintain peace in rural and urban areas, he added.
The Jats had earlier agitated in Haryana in February to press their demand for reservation in government jobs and educational institutions. In the violence, 30 people were killed and more than 300 were injured and property worth hundreds of crores was destroyed in February.
Haryana Government had on May 13 notified the Haryana Backward Classes (Reservation in services and admission in educational institutions) Act, 2016, to provide reservation to Jats and five other communities. However, the Punjab and Haryana High Court issued an interim order to put on hold the quota approved by the State Government.
The Jat community subsequently threatened to re-launch their agitation from June 5, following which Haryana Government has made arrangements to maintain law and order situation in the state.
District Administration Sonipat has already imposed prohibitory orders from May 28 to July 27 in the district to ward off any tension, fights, threats to human life, damage to property and deterioration in the law-and-order situation.
Also, central police forces have been deployed in seven sensitive districts in Haryana namely Jind, Kaithal, Bhiwani, Hisar, Sonepat, Jhajjar and Rohtak. These districts had witnessed widespread violence during the February 2016 stir. The security forces are regularly conducting flag marches in the cities.