Violence and arson in the Jat quota stir in Haryana spread to more areas today with four people being killed in firing by security personnel at Rohtak and Jhajjar districts taking the death toll to five even as he Army staged flag marches in affected pockets.
As Haryana remaiend on the boil, Army had to use choppers to reach parts of blocked Rohtak district even as several Haryana Roadways buses, seven railway stations, a police station and some buildings were torched by pro-quota protesters.
As violence spread to more areas, curfew was clamped in five more Haryana towns--the latest one being Jind, Hisar and Hansi in the evening. Earlier today, curfew was imposed in Sonipat and Gohana towns of Sonipat district. Curfew had already been clamped in Rohtak, Bhiwani and Jhajjar towns.
The road and rail traffic through Haryana and destined for neighboring states, including Delhi, Punjab, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir, Rajasthan and Chandigarh remained disrupted with authorities cancelling bus and train services on most routes in the wake of continuing blockades.
Four persons were killed while several others sustained bullet injuries in firing opened by security personnel at Rohtak and Jhajjar districts.
"Two persons were brought dead in PGIMS here," hospital authorities in Rohtak said today. "One patient who was critically injured was operated upon but he has also died," authorities said in the evening.
"One patient was brought dead at Jhajjar civil hospital with bullet injury in his head," a Jhajjar civil hospital official said over phone, adding that six patients with firearm injuries were referred to PGIMS.
Among the four dead, three were identified as Parveen (Jhajjar), Krishan (Jhajjar) and Nitin (Rohtak). The identity of the fourth is not yet known. One unidentified person was killed in firing by BSF yesterday in Rohtak after the agitation turned violent.
The Jat stir in Haryana has severely hit the movement of more than 800 trains, and seven stations in the state were set on fire by the agitators.
Jhajjar, Buddha Khed, Julana and Pillu Kheda were among the seven stations which were set afire, a Railway spokesperson said, adding that two track machines were also burnt at Pillu Kheda.
The country's largest carmaker Maruti Suzuki India suspended operations at its two plants in Gurgaon and Manesar as component supplies have been hit by the agitation of Jats demanding job reservation.
In a new twist to the agitation, there were reports of clashes between Jats and non-Jats with 10 persons being injured at Kalayat in Kaithal district and in Hansi area of Hisar district.
Appealing to protesters to end their stir, Chief Minister Manohar lal Khattar in a statement asked agitators to "return to their homes as the Government has accepted their demands", but did not elaborate
"Such incidents create disharmony," he said here after reviewing the situation with his ministerial colleagues and senior civil and police officers.
But several Jat leaders refused to call off the pro-quota agitation unless the government promulgates an ordinance to include the community in the OBC category.
Flag marches were conducted by Army in various districts including Jind, Rohtak and Bhiwani districts.
Around 25 Haryana Roadways buses were either burnt or their window panes damaged in arson and violence at Jind, Pundri, Julana and Gohana. Besides a number of private vehicles, including 2-wheelers, four wheelers and a truck were damaged in the state.
An official vehicle of the District Public Relations Officer (DPRO) of Jhajjar was also set on fire at Jhajjar. The four employees in the vehicle, including the local DPRO, managed to escape to safety before the vehicle was set afire, an official spokesman said in Chandigarh.
In late evening incidents, a railway station at Pillukhera, a sub Tehsil office at Bhuna and a cooperative bank building at village Gorakhpur was set ablaze.
Protesters ransacked and set on fire a Toll Plaza near Panipat on the Panipat-Rohtak Highway this evening, police said.
Jats have been demanding quota in jobs and educational institutions under OBC category. The agitators today demanded a "written assurance from the government", saying they "cannot be befooled with hollow promises every time".
However, a prominent Jat leader Yashpal Malik today said the Jat stir will not be called off till the state government promulgates an ordinance with regard to giving quota to Jats under OBC category.
Notably, Jats are miffed at the opposition of Kurukshetra MP Saini to Jat reservation. He had objected to giving reservation to Jats and had even threatened to resign if the OBC quota is affected.
Road and Railway traffic continued to be affected in the state due to blockades resulting in disruption of services from Delhi and beyond to Haryana, Punjab, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir and Chandigarh through various National Highways, including NH 44 (Delhi Ambala) and NH 10 (Delhi-Hissar- Fazilka). Several trains were cancelled by Railway authorities.
Police said some persons had pelted stones at the Jhajjar residence of Haryana Minister O P Dhankar, but no one was injured in the incident.
Normal life remained disrupted in large parts of the state with shops and commercial establishments besides schools remaining closed, mobile internet services being suspended in many districts, and transportation of essential commodities, including lPG, milk and vegetables, also being adversely affected.
Protesters have also blocked NH-44 near Nangal village in Sonipat district and near Panipat affecting movement of traffic, which connects Punjab, HP, Chandigarh and J&K.
Despite fresh incidents of violence being reported, State Police chief Yashpal Singhal claimed that the situation had improved since yesterday.
Prohibitory orders under section 144 CrPC banning assembly of five or more persons and taking out of processions have been clamped in more districts including Panipat, Hissar, Jhajjar, Gurgaon, Jind and Kaithal.
Army personnel could not enter Rohtak through road as protesters had put up blockades on Delhi, Hissar, Rohtak, and Fazilka highways, forcing the authorities to airdrop them from helicopters, an official said.