Gujjar agitation spills to several parts of Delhi

New Delhi, May 31 (UNI) Violence erupted at several places in Delhi as more and more Gujjar community people today took to streets to protest the police firing in Rajasthan, over granting 'Scheduled Tribe' status to the community, that claimed 14 lives.

While demonstrators in Khanpur and Ambedkar Nagar areas in South Delhi pelted stones at passing buses and policemen, others in Fatehpur (Mehrauli) blocked traffic for about half-an-hour to express solidarity for their community brethen in Rajasthan.

Sources said several policemen, including the area SHO, were injured in the stone-pelting in Khanpur, besides several vehicles damaged.

The DND flyover, connecting Delhi to Noida, was also subject to traffic jam for a shortwhile with several people trying to stop the traffic.

Protests were reported in Badarpur, too, but nothing major took place, said the police.

In Bhikaji Cama Place area, also in South Delhi, volunteers of the Akhil Bharatiya Yuva Gujjar Manch burnt the effigy of Rajasthan Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje in effigy and shouted anti-government slogans.

A pocketful of others also tried to block traffic at Mathura Road but with the timely intervention of the police, a showdown was averted.

In East Delhi, a crowd staged a 'protest march' from Ghazipur red light to Kondli, while protestors staged a 'chakka jam' at Noida Morh, near the Akshardham Temple.

At most of the places timely intervention of the police led to 'easing' of traffic early.

Meanwhile, the All India Gujjar Lawyers Association staged a 'candle-light vigil' at the India Gate in the evening to protest the killings in Rajasthan.

Earlier in the day, the Akhil Bharatiya Gujjar Mahasabha protested at the Jantar Mantar here in support of the demand to include the Gujjars in the Scheduled Tribe list in Rajasthan.

UNI