More than two weeks have passed since the rioters went berserk in Haryana’s Rohtak but the city continues to struggle to limp back to normalcy. The Jat reservation stir that witnessed destruction of properties has also affected the commoners. After 7 pm, curfew is imposed in the city.
The Pioneer visited Sampla village (centre of Jat agitation in Rohtak) to gauge residents’ mood. Jatin, who works in the outskirts of Rohtak, said he cannot rely on public transportation to reach home after work.
“Reaching home safely has become a serious issue for me every evening as public transportation is working only partially. From the past eight days, I am taking lift from the locals and struggle to reach home before 7 pm, when the curfew is imposed,” he said.
Tina, a primary school teacher in Bohr village, said the situation at her workplace has changed. “The damage is not just to the school building or properties, but the agitation has had psychological affect on the school children,” said the teacher.
“It is difficult to make school children understand about the situation who do not understand caste or politics. Conditions are getting worse when school buildings are targeted by the agitators. It is an attempt to destroy the future of young students,” she said.
“Flattened schools are closed…. Will the protesters or politicians go to the home of students to teach themIJ” asked the school teacher.
Krishan Dhayia, a security officer, said migratnts in Rohtak are planning to go back to their villages. “Circumstances in nearby villages are better compared to the city because in villages, people are still living together without any caste dispute whereas here, they are afraid of even introducing themselves,” said Dhaiya.