Gujjars block rail routes in Raj; post-mortem 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' sites in Pillukapura-Karwadi and Sikandara of Rajasthan this afternoon.

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 Brij Nagar railway station in Bharatpur.

The process of much awaited pos-tmortem of 16 corpses of victims of police firing in Pillukapura-Karwadi near Bayana began at the 'dharna' site around 1500 hrs and was completed by this evening.

Post mortem of deceased also began at 'dharna' sites in Sikandara.

Autopsy on some of the 19 bodies of deceased in firing in Sikandara on May 24 were completed till this evening, Dausa colllector Rajesh Yadav said.

Preparations for post mortem of two victims of firing in Kushalipura in Sawai Madhopur on Friday was also being made at 'dharna' site in Kushalipura.

Meanwhile, Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje has appealed all, particularly the Gujjar Community, to maintain peace, law and order in the state.

Ms Raje has also renewed her invitation to Gujjar leaders for participating in dialogue with the state government to find peaceful solution to their agitation.

The Chief Minister also reviewed the situation in the state at a high level meeting held at her official residence here tonight. BJP leadership and members of state cabinet participated in the meeting.

Meanwhile, Rashtriya Lok Dal president and former Union Minister Ajit Singh visited the state and extended his support to the Gujjars' demand for ST status and demanded an all party meeting at the Centre as well as state level for evolving consensus over the issue.

The situation on the day 11 of the agitation, by and large remained peaceful even as protests and rasto roko were held at some places in the state.

Train services continued to remain disrupted since May 23 as over 20 trains were either cancelled or diverted today.

Eds rest pick up suitably from earlier stories.

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