Admitting failure of security forces to contain the violence in Rohtak a day before, Haryana DGP YP Singhal on Saturday said that the situation is difficult to tackle and it is taking time to bring the situation under control as the Jat agitation, which has left one dead and more than 78 injured, is not being spearheaded by any one particular leader.
“The violence is mainly being carried out by leaderless youths instigated by false rumours. As there is no particular leader of this agitation, we are facing a tough time to hold talks to pacify the agitators. There is also a possibility of people from outside Haryana being among the agitators,” said DGP Singhal while addressing a Press conference here on Saturday.
On being questioned about intelligence failure, the DGP denied any intelligence failure on the issue of agitation and said that those agitating are changing their strategy for this widespread agitation, therefore, the Government too has to change its strategy to contain the agitation.
The DGP admitted that there was a failure to deputy adequate police forces in Rohtak to contain incidents of violence during the Jat agitation on Friday.
When asked if inquiry would be conducted on police officials who failed to contain violence in Rohtak, he said that the issue of conducting an inquiry would be discussed later. He said that those conspiring to fuel the agitation are being identified by Police and stern action would be taken against them but first the priority is restoring the law and order situation in Haryana.
On reports of ammunition being looted from shops at some places, Singhal said that an arms shop was looted and according to reports ammunition was looted but its quantity cannot be estimated.
The DGP also appealed to all Khaps and Jat community elders to assert control on the youth to prevent the situation from turning worse. He appealed to khaps not to hold any meeting till normally returned.
Even as the DGP claimed that the situation is better on Saturday than Friday, reports of violence and damage to public and private property continued to pour in from across the state.
“So far, 129 cases have been registered against those agitating. As per the reports received, five arrests have been confirmed although more people have been arrested in various parts,” said he
The DGP informed that Army and para-military forces are conducting flag march in affected areas Senior officers have been deputed to affected areas even by helicopter to supervise the flag march by Army and para-military forces and assist the district administration.
Singhal said that according to the Director of the Post Graduate Institute of Medical Sciences, Rohtak, one person was brought dead and 78 are injured including five police personnel.
“The incidents of sporadic violence have been reported from some areas. A petrol pump and Police Station Sadar in Meham were damaged and set on fire. The national highway number 1 is blocked but efforts are on to get the blockade lifted. Information of stone pelting at Agriculture Minister Om Parkash Dhankar’s house in Jhajjar was also received,” said he.
He added that anti-social elements are not blocking roads at all places as at many places the agitators are lifting blockades after persuasion.
While referring to the help sought from Army, he said that 13 columns of Army have reached the state and are assisting the administration. Ten more columns of the Army are being airlifted to their respective destinations. In addition, ten companies of para-military forces have reached the state and 23 more companies are on their way to Haryana. These were either being air lifted or reaching by road.
Singhal said that the Union Home Secretary has agreed to deploy ten more companies for Haryana.
Additional Chief Secretary, Home, PK Das informed that till Saturday morning, the curfew was imposed in three districts namely Rohtak, Bhiwani and Jhajjar.