2 more killed in Gujjar stir; Police fire in Sawai Madhopur

Jaipur, May 30 (UNI) At least two people were killed and several others, including five police personnel, injured in violence and police firing during the Gujjar stir near Kushalipura in Sawai Madhopur in Rajasthan today.

Unofficial TV reports put death toll at three.

According to Police sources, the Gujjar agitators blocking traffic on the Sawai Madhopur-Sheopur (MP) Road near Kushalipura suddenly turned violent and resorted to stone pelting on the security personnel who were trying to disperse them.

The securitymen initially used routine means, including tear gas and rubber bullets, to quell the mob but the irate protesters did not relent.

They took positions behind hilly rocks along either sides of the road and started stone pelting.

This forced the police and Rajasthan Armed Constabulary (RAC) personnel to open fire which left at least two dead identified as Kanhiya Lal(23) and Radhey Shyam(22).

One RAC personnel was rushed to the SMS Hospital here in critical condition, the sources said. The bodies were in the possession of the protesters who were around 1000 in strength.

With this, at least 38 people have so far been killed in the second spell of the Gujjar agitation since May 23. Unofficial sources, including TV news channels and Pradesh Congress Committee have put the toll between 41 to 42.

Both the Rajasthan government as well as the Gujjar leaders were making efforts to open dialogue to evolve consensus over their demand for ST status for the community.

Gujjar Agitation Action Committee convener Col(retd) Kirodi Singh Bainsla, who is spearheading a dharna at Pillukapur-Karwari in Bayana, along with 12 bodies of firing victims, told a TV News Channel that Gujjars were ready to hold a dialogue if they got some concrete proposal from the state government.

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