Gujjar agitation enters 3rd day in West UP

Lucknow, Jun 4 (UNI) The Gujjar community, protesting in parts of Western Uttar Pradesh in support of ST status for their brethren in Rajasthan, today continued their agitation for the third consecutive day.

Gujjars staged demonstrations and blocked highways at several places of west UP, leading to traffic snarls. They disrupted rail traffic on several routes and burnt Rajasthan Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje Scindia in effigy.

A report from Mathura said agitators blocked the Delhi-Mathura National Highway for several hours. At least 20 passengers were severely wounded when the mob pelted stones at Porbandar Express in Chata railway station.

The agitators torched two roadways buses in Greater Noida and later set ablaze another bus in Noida, reports said.

The situation worsened when the mob led by Gujjars pelted stones at cops, wounding Police Superintendent Paresh Pandey, SDM (Sadar) Harish Chandrta and Kasna police station in charge Ambika Bhardwaj.

Police fired in the air and lobbed tear gas shells.

Besides, the community staged 'dharnas' at railway lines in Dadri and Khurja and shouted anti-Vasundhara Raje 'slogans'. In Noida, the demonstrators blocked roads in Pari Chowk, Surajpur and Tilpata and also stopped several trains, including the North-East Express and Kalka Mail at a railway crossing near Palla village.

Dadri station master M M Meena said rail traffic was disrupted at the busy Delhi-Hawrah rail line, when Gujjars stopped two goods trains and Gomti Express, Jan Sadharan Express, Vikramshila Express, Shatabdi, Sampoorna Kranti, Maghad Express and Gareeb Rath.

Led by the Gujjar Ekta Manch, the mob blocked entrance point of sector 14-A of the city and burnt the Rajasthan government in effigy at Maurana square.

Rail traffic was also obstructed in Bagpat, Gautam Buddhanagar, Bulandshahr and Aligarh, where the Gujjars staged demonstartions shouting anti-Rajasthan government 'slogans'.

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