Violence sweeps across Rajasthan, 3 killed in Sawai Madhopur

Jaipur, May 31 (UNI) Violence swept Rajasthan as the Gujjars intensified their pro-reservation agitation, which claimed three more lives today as well as disrupted road and rail services in the state while members of the community in contigous Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Madhya Pradesh and Delhi also came out in support.

The Army was called out in Kota and Alwar, which bore the brunt of the agitation today.

Three 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 20.

The BJP, which rules the state, termed the situation as a 'serious one' and appealed to the Gujjar community to withdraw the agitation and find a solution through dialogue and discussion.

The party's national spokesman Prakash Javadekar however evaded replying to a direct question on whether the BJP favours ST quota for the Gujjars, and said it had a policy of ''justice to all and injustice to none.'' He also denied that the BJP's national executive, which was be held in Jaipur in the middle of next month had been shifted.

''It will meet here as per schedule for a three-day conclave beginning June 15,'' he said at a press conference here.

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 xxxx Picking up from last para of DR40 'AGITATION-RAJASTHAN-THIRD LEAD VIOLENCE'.

UNI