Gujjar anniversary passes off peacefully;bandhs in many towns of Raj

Jaipur, May 29(UNI) A brief programme was held in Patoli-Pipalkhera today to pay tributes to the victims of police firing during the first phase of Gujjar movement on this day last year, even as bandhs and 'rasta roko' campaign at several places by Gujjar protesters here and in Tonk, Alwar and Bundi districts affected normal life.

The programme in Patoli during which people offered floral tributes and observed two minutes silence as mark of respect for the deceased, passed off peacefully, police sources said.

The administration had made elaborate security arrangements for the anniversary programme. The Army had staged a flag march in Patoli, Pipal Khera and adjoining areas last evening.

Three columns of the Army along with the CRPF and RAC personnel was deployed in Patoli and Pipal Khera. As many as 26 people were killed in violence and police firing during the first phase of agitation last year.

Meanwhile, bandh observed in Jaipur in protest against the police firings during the second phase of agitation in Pillukapura in Bayna and Sikandara in Dausa district last week affected normal life with most shops and business establishments in main city remaining closed, they said.

City bus service was also affected adversely, however, the bandh passed off peacefully, they added.

Besides Jaipur, bandhs were also organised in Bhiwadi and Kishangarhbas in Alwar district, Duni and Niwai towns in Tonk district, Indergarh and Nainwan in Bundi district and several other places across the state, they said.

Barring minor incidents no major untoward incident was reported from any place. Bus and train services were also disrupted in the state since May 23 with launch of second phase of the Gujjar agitation seeking ST status for the community.

About two dozen trains were either cancelled or diverted on alternative routes, the sources said.

The situation in Sikandara in Dausa district and Pillukapura-Karvari in Bayana region still continued to be tense as large number of Gujjars led by Gujjar Action Committee convener Col Kirodi Singh Bainsla were sitting on dharna with the bodies of 18 victims of police firing for the past one week.

Army and para military forces deployed in these Gujjar dominated pockets were maintaining full alert, the sources said.

Anniversary programmes to pay tributes to the firing victims were also held at dharna sites in Pillukapur-Karvari and Sikandara and some other Gujjar-dominated places in the state, they added.

UNI SS AM PK KP1400