Gujjar women block rail routes, autopsy of victims conducted
Jaipur, Jun 2 (UNI) Gujjar protesters blocked traffic on Jaipur-Delhi, Jaipur-Agra and Alwar-Mathura rail routes even as on-the-spot autopsies on the bodies of firing victims were performed at the dharna site in Pillukapura-Karwadi this afternnoon.
The blockade and dharna at the Arnia Railway station in Dausa district since last evening was staged by Gujjar women who joined in the agitation blocking Jaipur-Delhi and Jaipur-Agra rail routes, while groups of armed Gujjar youths blocked Alwar-Mathura line at Nagar railway station in Bharatpur this afternoon.
The protesters had gathered at Arnia yesterday but they were removed by the authorities. However, the agitators, mostly women, reassembled on the tracks last evening and blocked the route.
They stopped Jammu-bound Jaipur-Jammu Tawi Puja Express, which remained stranded at the spot for several hours before its return to Jaipur early this morning.
The officials had escorted the stranded passengers back to Jaipur in buses last night.
The busy Delhi-Mumbai route has already been blocked due to ongoing dharna on rail tracks at Pillukapura-Karwadi near Bayana since May 23.
Post-mortem of the 16 victims of Pillukapura-Karwadi police firing during the Gujjar agitation on May 23 began this afternoon at the dharna site and would be completed by the evening.
The initial dialogue between mediators/facilitators and the Gujjar leaders also started yesterday for preparing grounds for formal talks between the Rajasthan Government and the Gujjar leaders.
Sitting BJP MP and scion of Bharatpur royal family Vishwendra Singh and BJP MLA and former Minister Devi Singh Bhati proceeded yesterday for Pillukapura to meet Gujjar leader Col (retd) Kirodi Singh Bainsla.
Three representatives of Art of Living Mission founder Sri Sri Ravi Shankar had conveyed to Col Bainsla the message of the spiritual leader who had also offered to mediate for an amicable solution to the Gujjar issue.
Sitting BJP MLA and MP Vishwendra Singh's wife Divya Singh has expressed her intention to quit the Assembly membership to express solidarity with the Gujjars' cause. Ms Singh had sent her resignation to Col Bainsla for forwarding it to Speaker Sumitra Singh.
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