14 people killed in violence in Rajasthan

By Staff
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Jaipur, May 29: The Army was called out and a red alert sounded across Rajasthan after at least 14 people were killed in Dausa and Bundi and more than 70 injured today as members of the Gujjar community turned violent while staging demonstrations and chakka jams to press for their inclusion in the Scheduled Tribes category.

Seven people died in Dausa and as many were killed in violence in Bundi as the Gujjars fought pitched battles with police at several places, Rajasthan Home Minister Gulab Chand Kataria told a news conference here.

He said the state government had sought the assistance of the army to deal with the situation. A red alert has been sounded across the state to maintain law and order. Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje is in Delhi attending the National Development Council (NDC) meeting.

At least two policemen had also been reported missing after the violence in Patoli, Karauli Superintendent of Police told sources over telephone.

The Delhi-Jaipur Highway has been closed for traffic but the bypass connecting the two cities was operational.

Traffic on the busy highway also remained disrupted for over four hours with demonstrators blocking traffic near Kotputli in Karauli district in the afternoon. The mob also set afire at least four vehicles and damaged public property along the highway, violating the prohibitory orders at various places, including Karauli, Dausa, Tonk, Ajmer and Bundi.

A 15,000-strong mob of people gathered at highway near Pipal Kheda, Patoli area this morning. The mob attacked the police personnel and chopped off the arm of a policeman.

Several police personnel sustained injuries in the incident, forcing them to open fire to disperse the mob.

Two policemen were reported missing.

In Bundi, agitators gathered at the highway near Dev Narain Temple, and resorted to stone throwing which left several police personnel injured.

The district collector was also injured in stone throwing, Mr Kataria said.

In Bala Khedi, the situation turned worse when the agitating Gurjars gheraoed the police parties and attacked the force. The police opened the fire in self defence only after other means to disperse the mob failed to work, Mr Kataria said.

Over a dozen people, including eight police personnel, were injured in the violence, police sources said.

Additional Director General of Police (Law and Order) Kanhiya Lal has been sent to Mahuwa to supervise law and order situation in Bala Khedi village.

Meanwhile, state Congress General Secretary and former Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot has condemned the police action and demanded the resignation of the Chief Minister.

"Ms Raje was responsible for the situation as her government failed to resolve the issue through dialogue," he said, adding that it was she who had "unduly raked" up the reservation issue prior to the 2003 Assembly elections.

Mr Gehlot also demanded inquiry into today's violence by the Rajasthan High Court and adequate compensation for the victims' families.

UNI

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