Jats’ to choke Delhi tomorrow, Haryana calls in army
Internet services, liquor sale banned in various districts in the state; petrol pumps asked not to fill more than 10 litres of fuel in tractors
ROHTAK/HISAR/CHANDIGARH: The Haryana government on Saturday called in army in the state and took other preventive steps in view of the threat given by the All India Jat Aarakshan Sangharsh Samiti (AIJASS) to gherao Parliament on March 20 and “choke” Delhi from all sides with their tractor-trailers.
Additional chief secretary (home) Ram Niwas told HT that 124 companies of paramilitary forces have been deployed in various districts.
Sonepat deputy commisioner (DC) KM Pandurang said that four columns of the army had already reached the district while 21 more columns comprising 100 soldiers each will reach by Sunday.
In Bhiwani, DC Anshaj Singh said 18 army columns have been called, while troops with similar strength have been called in Rohtak as well.
The government also banned assembly of four or more persons on national highways and stopped internet services in several sensitive districts.
The administration in Rohtak and Jhajjar districts imposed Section 144 of the CrPC, as a precautionary measure, prohibiting sale of liquor, carrying of firearms and other weapons, assembly of more that four persons near railway tracks and plying of tractor-trailers carrying five or more persons on state and national highways.
An official spokesman said a limit of 10 litres of fuel had been imposed on refilling of tractortrailers and directions issued to petrol pump owners to record details such as driver’s name, registration number of the vehicle and number of people travelling in the vehicle. Restrictions have been imposed on open sale of petrol, diesel and other inflammable materials.
He said a ban has also been imposed on plying of tractor-tarilers carrying food items, cooking equipment and materials and any type of weapon, including lathis and swords, on the state and national highways.
The spokesman said that pitching of tents along state and national highways had also been prohibited and owners of dharmshalas, hotels and restaurants had been directed to maintain complete record of guests who stay at their premises.
As the Delhi Police said they will not allow entry of tractors in the capital, the Jats responded by threatening to set up transit camps wherever they are stopped.
The spokesman said therestricts would remain in place till March 21 in district Jhajjar. All internet services like 2G, 3G, 4G, EDGE and GPRS, and bulk messages provided on mobile networks were banned to prevent spreading of wrong information and rumours in Rohtak, Sonepat, Jhajjar, Bhiwani and Dadri till Tuesday morning. Shops selling liquor would also remain closed till 9 am on March 21.
NIGHT VIGIL
Apart from this, the , Jhajjar administration had directed all gram panchayats in the district to deploy youth to carry out ‘thikri pehra’ (night vigil) for maintenance of peace and law and order in their villages.
The spokesman said Section 144 had also been imposed in Sonepat district, prohibiting plying of tractor-trailers on main roads and carrying food items, and limiting their use to only for agricultural purposes. Ban had also been imposed on open sale of petrol, diesel and other inflammable materials.
Directions have been issued to petrol pump owners maintain complete record of sale of petrol and diesel. Directions have also been issued to close all liquor vends. The Sonepat district has also stopped all internet services like 2G, 3G, 4G, EDGE and GPRS with immediate effect, he added.
Bhiwani DC Ashaj Singh said they were going to seal the city’s border and will not allow protesters to take tractors out of city.
Taking note of the threat, the administration has also issued orders barring setting up of tents near national or state highways. A ban on tractors carrying more than four people and any type of weapon (lathis, swords, hammers etc) has also been imposed under section 144 of the CrPC. Authorities in Hisar, Fatehabad and Sirsa have directed petrol pump owners to not provide petrol or diesel for tractor-trailers or for the purpose of refilling drums.
Hisar DC Nikhil Gajraj said the authorities were ready to deal with any untoward situation and maintain law and order. He said, “We have sufficient police, paramilitary force and also requested the army at the Hisar cantonment to control the situation.”
He added, “We have deployed 30 duty magistrates under the leadership of sub-divisional magistrates (SDM) and 10 duty magistrates have been kept in reserve.”
He said internet services have also been banned under Section 144 of the CrPC. “We have also asked petrol pump owners not to provide petrol or diesel for tractor-trailers in drums.”
Hisar SP Rajendra Kumar Meena said, “We have asked the Haryana roadways to suspend the bus service on Hisar-Panipat, Hisar-Delhi, HisarGurugram and Hisar-Jind routes.”