Violence continues in Rajasthan

Jaipur, May 31: The pro-reservation agitation by the Gujjar community in Rajasthan claimed two more lives today even as the Army was called out in Kota and Alwar amid reports of the stir spreading to contiguous states. Two persons were killed and four others injured when police opened fire to disperse a mob indulging in arson and violence in Baunli town of Sawai Madhopur district.

According to official sources, the mob attempted to gherao the police station and attack policemen. They also damaged property at the police post and the tehsil office, forcing the police to open fire, leading to the casualties.

With this, the total toll in the violence and police firing during protests by the Gujjar in the state since Tuesday, has gone up to 19.

In Kota, two columns of the Army were deployed to help the civil administration restore order after violence swept through the district. Irate mobs set afire a police post in Jagpuri and indulged in large-scale arson, damaging property at several places including the Kota Milk Dairy complex. A sub-inspector sustained injuries, while six police personnel managed to flee.

Later, the mob gathered at the Kota railway station and tried to vandalise it. Protestors also tried to burn the station in the nearby town of Ramganj Mandi.

Violence was also reported from Dholpur district 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.

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

In the capital, bandh supporters gathered at the Chaugan Stadium in the walled city but were prevented from taking out a rally by the police, leading to a brief clash. Minor clashes were also reported from other areas in the city even as the bandh call evoked a mixed response. Both roadways and private bus operations remained suspended as a precautionary measure in view of the bandh call today.

Meanwhile, the dialogue between the government and the agitating Gujar community leaders commenced late last night in Dausa. The second round was expected to be held today but it was yet to begin.

Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje apprised Governor Pratibha Patil of the prevailing situation in the state.

Accompanied by Home Minister Gulab Chand Kataria, Ms Raje went to the Raj Bhawan to meet the Governor. The meeting lasted for about 30 minutes. Chief Secretary Anil Vaish and Director General of Police AS Gill were also present.

Train services in the violence-hit state continued to be affected for a second day today with as many as 26 trains passing through the state, including Delhi-Ajmer Shatabdi Express and Delhi-Ahmedabad Rajdhani Express, being cancelled and one train rescheduled in the interest of passenger safety.

The decision to cancel and reschedule trains passing through the desert state was taken following a high-level meeting by Railway Board officials in Delhi.

A ministry official said that train movement in the North Zone, North Western Zone, West Central Zone and North Central Zone had been severly affected by the agitation. Northern Railway cancelled 12 trains, followed by North Western Railway (7), Western Railway (4) and North Central Railway (2). West Central Railway cancelled just one train.

The Gujjar agitation spread to neighbouring Madhya Pradesh also, with several hundred community members staging a demonstration and blocking road traffic for a few hours at Neemuch today.

They also submitted to the district authorities a memorandum addressed to the President demanding ST status to Gujjars and government jobs and compensation of at least Rs 5 lakh to next of kin of those who died in police action against the agitators in Rajasthan.

UNI