Three killed in Rajasthan police firing

Jaipur, May 29 (UNI) At least three people were killed and several injured when police opened fire at two different places here on a mob of Gurjars holding demonstrations and 'rasta roko' to demand its inclusion in the Scheduled Tribes (ST) category.

While two people were killed in the firing that took place on the highway in Bala Khedi village of nearby Dausa district, one death was reported during the agitation in Bundi.

Police confirmed two deaths but reports put the death toll at six.

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, state Home Minister Gulab Chand Kataria said.

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

Some of the injured were referred to the SMS Hospital here.

Elsewhere in the state, agitating Gurjars also clashed with police in Kotputli and Gudalia villages in Karauli district.

The police resorted to bursting teargas shells to disperse the mob in Kotputli while the situation was brought under control at Gudalia in Karauli, the sources said.

Mr Kataria reviewed the law and order situation in the state in the wake of 'rasta roko' call by the Gurjar community with some of his Cabinet colleagues and senior officials, including the Chief Secretary, the Home Secretary, the Director General of Police at the state Secretariat here this afternoon.

Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje is presently away in New Delhi for the NDC meeting.

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.

Mr Gehlot, in a statement, said Ms Raje was ''responsible for the situation as her government has failed to resolve the issue through dialogue.'' ''It was Ms Raje who had herself unduly raked up the reservation issue prior to the 2003 Assembly elections in Rajasthan.'' he claimed.

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

UNI