Gujjars in Delhi protest police firing, burnt Vasundhara's effigy

New Delhi, May 30 (UNI) Expressing solidarity with their brethren in Rajasthan, the Gujjar community in North-East Delhi's Khajuri Khas area here today blocked traffic in protest against yesterday's firing that claimed 14 lives.

More than 200 people gathered at Khajuri Khas at about 1000 hrs and blocked traffic to express their anguish over the police firing on protesting Gujjars in Dausa and Bundi in Rajasthan demanding Scheduled Tribe status, according to sources.

Raising anti-CM slogans the demonstrators also burnt the effigy of Rajasthan Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje and set up road blockades by burning tyres on the road forcing police to intervene.

Police later cleared the blockade and asked protestors to disperse. The agitation ended at around 1200 hrs, sources added.

DCP (North-East) Jaspal Singh said the demonstration was peaceful and the protestors dispersed after some time.

''Looking at the gravity of the situation extra police force has been deployed and the area is being monitored.'' The protestors were basically expressing their solidarity with the Gujjar community in Rajasthan who were demanding ST status recognition for them, he added.

Peaceful protests were also reported from Badarpur, Dayalpur and Chhattarpur areas in the city. Agitators blocked traffic and raised anti-government slogans. However, no reports of any violence were received from any part.

Yesterday, the Army was called and a red alert sounded across Rajasthan after at least 14 people were killed and around 90 injured in Dausa and Bundi districts after members of the Gujjar community turned violent during demonstrations and 'chakka jam' to press for their inclusion in the Scheduled Tribes category.

Seven people died in Dausa district and as many, including a policeman, were killed in violence in Bundi.

In Dausa, police was forced to open fire to rescue about 15 police personnel from being attacked by a violent mob. Two policemen were still reported missing and they are feared to be dead.

In Bundi, too, police was forced to open fire on the highway in the town when a mob gathered near Dev Narain Temple and tried to lynch four policemen.

Six people were killed in the firing while one policemen, who was injured in mob attack, succumbed to his injuries later. Another policemen was struggling for life at the Kota Hospital.

Around 90 people, most of them police personnel, were injured in the violence. While eight of the injured were referrred to the SMS Hospital in Jaipur, others were being treated at different hospitals in Dausa, Mahuwa, Sikandara, Bundi and Kota.

UNI