Gujjar fury boils over in Rajasthan: Bandhs held, Army out

Jaipur, May 31 (UNI) Rajasthan continued to simmer today as Gujjar fury at denial of ST status swept through the state, resulting in widespread violence and the Army being called out in Kota.

Irate Gujjar protestors set afire a police post in Jagpuri and indulged in large-scale arson, damaging properties at several places including the Kota Milk Dairy complex.

Bandh supporters, who gathered at the Jagpuri police post in Kota this morning, clashed with the police and set the police post afire.

A sub inspector sustained injuries, while six police personnel managed to flee the place.

The protestors also attacked the milk dairy complex, affecting milk supply in the areas. The mob later gathered at the Kota railway station and tried to damage public property.

Kota District Magistrate Alok told UNI that two columns of the Army had been deployed in the city to assist the civil administration in checking the violence.

Violence was also reported from Dholpur and Sawai Madhopur districts and bandhs were organised at several places including Jaipur, Ajmer, Alwar and Dausa.

The Army has already been called out in Alwar to assist the administration in dealing with the situation during the bandh today.

The Gujjar mob ransacked the Malanadungar railway station in Sawai Madhopur district and damaged railway tracks on a one km stretch near the Chauth Ka Barwada railway station in the district.

A report from Dholpur said that mobs of agitating Gujjars indulged in arson and violence at different places in Basedi, Bari and Mania. They set ablaze a police jeep and some vehicles in Basedi and damaged the Basedi-Badi road at several places, disrupting traffic on the busy road.

They also set afire hutments meant for the court offices of lawyers in the Basedi court premises.

UNI