Fresh violence erupted in Haryana’s Rohtak, Kaithal and Sonipat on Monday as Jat protesters blocked roads in various parts of the State. Three persons were killed and nine injured as stone-pelting protesters clashed with the Army and paramilitary personnel who were trying to clear a road blockade on Ambala-Delhi National Highway at ladsoli village in Sonipat district, taking the toll in the Jat agitation to 19. The Samjhauta Express and other buses running between India and Pakistan were cancelled as the rail and land routes connecting the countries were hit by the reservation stir.
Meanwhile, sources said that a small faction of Jats have promised to stop agitation and have entered into dialogue with the Government.
Curfew was imposed in five villages of Hisar district and shoot-at-sight orders issued following a face-off between Jats and other community members in the area. Earlier in the day curfew was lifted from Hisar and Hansi towns even as road and rail traffic from Hisar to various destinations remained suspended. Deputy Commissioner Chander Shekhar Khare issued orders clamping curfew in five villages of Sisai, Pano Bolan, Kali Rava, Sainipura and Dhanipal falling in Hansi sub-division.
Shortly after clearance of the Ambala-Delhi National Highway, protesters gathered on the highway at ladsoli in Sonipat. The mob attacked personnel of Army and paramilitary forces who were trying to clear the road blockade leading to a clash in which three persons were killed and nine others were injured, a police spokesperson said. Those killed were identified as Sunny (of Gandhi Nagar), Rajesh (Samli), both of Ganaur area and Sandeep (Phansi, Sonipat).
Sonipat Deputy Commissioner Rajiv Rattan said the mob pelted stones on the Army and paramilitary personnel and used batons and other things, leaving many of the security personnel injured in the process.
The mob went berserk setting on fire Government and private vehicles, indulging in vandalism and attacking the security forces, he said, adding there was tension in the entire area, but efforts were being made to bring the situation under control. Meanwhile, the Haryana Government on Monday announced full compensation for damage caused to private properties as well as ex-gratia of Rs 10 lakh to the kin of the 19 killed in the Jat agitation for reservation.
Union Minister Birender Singh on Moday appealed to Jat protesters to end their stir and assured them that a “consensual” solution will soon be found out to the issue. “We can find a solution to this through talks. I pray to you with folded hands to put an end to your struggle and return back to your homes,” Singh, a Jat leader from Haryana, said.
Chief Minister Manohar lal Khattar called a Cabinet meeting on Monday to take stock of the situation. Haryana Cabinet Minister Ram Bilas told the media on Monday that the Centre has been informed that the State has suffered losses of about Rs 20,000 crore. The Minister informed that traffic on the Delhi-Chandigarh rail route has been restored. The Delhi-Jaipur and Delhi-Mathura highways have opened for traffic. Railway routes to other places are also being restored.
After the Cabinet meeting, Health Minister Anil Vij threatened to resign after he got upset by a tweet by Agriculture Minister OP Dhankar that the Government would give compensation of Rs.10 lakh and a government job to families of those killed in the violence. Vij argued that those killed could be rioters and could not be compensated.
Curfew in Rohtak town was relaxed for an hour. However, Jat protesters set on fire a Government vehicle in Meham in Rohtak district. They also continued to block some roads including in Rohtak, Hisar and Bhiwani districts.
Road traffic on various national and State highways from Hissar to various destinations, including Delhi, Chandigarh, Sirsa, Siwani and Bhiwani remained suspended. Railway traffic from Hissar to various destinations including Delhi, ludhiana, Bhiwani and Sadulpur also remained suspended. The traffic on Ambala-Pipli route had been restored and State Roadways was also plying buses, according to the Government officials.
Bowing to pressure from agitating Jats, the Modi Government had on Sunday evening announced setting up of a five-member committee under a Central minister to examine the quota demand for the community in government jobs. Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh had said that a committee headed by Union Minister Venkaiah Naidu has been formed to look into the demand for reservation in Central Government jobs. Haryana CM Khattar has already assured a Bill in the Assembly to give quota to Jats in the State.