SC agitators turn violent, police resorts to lathi-charge

Rohtak, Jan 23 (UNI) Nearly half-a-dozen vehicles were set ablaze and scores of others were damaged by the agitating activists of the 'Dalit-A' Mahapanchayat here today after a state-level rally, forcing the police to use mild force, the Deputy Commissioner, Rohtak, R.S. Doon said.

According to the DC, the police resorted to mild lathi charge on the miscreants to protect the private and public property.

Cases were registered against the agitators under various sections and about 40 people had been taken in police custody, Disstrict Superintendent of Police, Mr. Hanif Quraishi informed.

The Mahapanchayat has been demanding restoration of categorisation of SCs into 'A" and 'B' groups for the purpose of extending the benenfit of reservation in recruitments to government jobs and admissions to educational institutions in Haryana.

The Mahapanchayat had convened a rally today in the old government senior secondary school ground where its leaders asserted that the agitation would be further intensified after the rally.

The rallyists, many of them armed with lathis, hockey sticks and axes, and started marching towards the mini secretariat where their fasting agitators have been camping since December. On the way, the processionists pelted stones on several shops, offices and vehicles which were damaged.

The chief Minister's effigy was burnt by the protesters at the park chowk here and when stopped them from proceeding further, they started throwing stones on the police and broke a road-side wall.

The agitators also set ablaze a government jeep and four private cars outside the office of the Additional Deputy Commissioner. The police resorted to lathicharge to disperse the mob of protesters were injured.

While dalit Mahapanchayat leaders claimed that over 20 protesters were injured in the lathicharge, the police said that five protersters and a few policement sustained minor injuries.

The persons whose property had been damaged by the miscreants, the owners of those properties could register a case for compensation against the Mahapanchayat, the DC said.

UNI XC JN VN2027