The Gujjar community agitation demanding five per cent quota in jobs
and educational institutes turned violent in Rajasthan’s Dholpur
district Sunday as shots were fired and three police vehicles torched.
Unidentified miscreants fired 8-10 rounds in the air while the
blockade on the Agra-Morena Highway was in place, Dholpur Superintendent
of Police (SP) Ajay Singh told PTI.
Three police vehicles, including two jeeps and a bus were set afire by agitators, Singh added.
The SP said the protesters also pelted stones, injuring four jawans,
adding that police had to lob tear gas shells to disperse the crowd.
As a precautionary measure, authorities have imposed prohibitory
orders under CrPc section 144 in Dholpur and neighbouring Karauli
districts.
The blockade by Gujjar Arakshan Sangarsh Samiti chief Kirori Singh
Bainsla and his supporters began Friday evening in Rajasthan’s Sawai
Madhopur district and has forced the West Central Railway (CWR) to
divert, cancel or partially terminate nearly 200 trains in the last two
days.
The protestors are demanding five per cent separate
reservation to Gujjars, Raika-Rebari, Gadia Luhar, Banjara and Gadaria
for government jobs and admission in educational institutions. Bainsla
had said that reservation was promised by the government in its election
manifesto.
A state government delegation, including Tourism minister Vishvendra
Singh and senior IAS officer Neeraj K Pawan, Saturday met Bainsla and
his supporters to hold talks, but no agreement could be reached.
“We will continue the dharna on the rail tracks. No compromise was
made with the government delegation. We want a 5 per cent reservation
order,” Bainsla had said.
CM Gehlot calls act ‘unjustified’
Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot called the stone pelting and the torching of vehicles unjustified.
“Holding protest is justified but sitting on railway tracks is not.
Protesters should come forward for talks. The government is open for
dialogue and has constituted a committee,” he said.
Referring to the violence erupted during protest, Gehlot said,
“Anti-social elements have joined the protest. Administration and police
will investigate the reasons of the incident. Gujjar leader Kirori
Singh Bainsla has appealed to maintain peace so people should listen to
him.”
Several trains cancelled, diverted
Due to the ongoing Gujjar protest in Kota Division, the Northern
Railway has cancelled 18 trains plying today, 10 trains on 11 Feb, 12
trains on 12 February and 15 trains on 13 February.
It has also diverted 13 trains commencing on 10 February and 5 trains on 11 February.
(Inputs from PTI)
