CBI registers FIRs of arson at Abhimanyu’s school, press
Agency has named 10 people as accused for attacking his properties in Rohtak
CHANDIGARH: The CBI has registered two separates cases in connection with arson at Haryana finance minister Capt Abhimanyu’s school and printing press in Rohtak during the Jat reservation stir in February last year. The cases were registered by the Chandigarh unit of CBI on Tuesday, more than three months after the state government had transferred the police FIRs.
The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has registered two separates cases in connection with alleged arson at Haryana finance minister Capt Abhimanyu’s school and printing press in Rohtak during the Jat reservation stir in February last year.
The two cases were registered by the Chandigarh unit of CBI on Tuesday, more than three months after the state government had transferred the first information reports (FIRs) lodged by the state police into arson and rioting at Indus Public School and Haribhoomi press owned by trusts run by the minister and his family.
The CBI, which registered the FIRs after the Union ministry of personnel, public grievances and pensions acceded to the state government’s request, named 10 persons as accused for allegedly indulging in rioting, unlawful assembly, arson and criminal intimidation during the Jat stir for reservation in government jobs and educational institutions.
These are in addition to three cases it registered in October last year to probe the alleged attack on the minister’s family and torching of his residence and looting of weapons from a company of the Border Security Force (BSF) and Haryana police in the district.
At least 30 lives were lost and public and private property worth hundreds of crores destroyed in the unprecedented violence that rocked eight districts of the state. The first FIR (number 13) pertains to arson and loot at Haribhoomi press at Chuliana Mor in Rohtak, the epicentre of the quota stir. In the case registered on the complaint of a manager, eight persons, including an ex-sarpanch of Baliana village, have been named as accused.
It is alleged that about 30 to 40 people armed with lathis, rods, petrol bombs and oil containers etc tried to break the main gate of the premises at around 10.30 pm on February 19. While some others jumped the wall and started firing, a few of them lobbed petrol bombs in the press, setting it on fire. A few hours later, another group of 50-60 people led by a person travelling in an unnumbered car entered the premises, set the press on fire again and took away goods in their tractortrailers. The loss of property has been put at Rs 15.50 crore.
The second FIR pertains to arson at the school where a mob allegedly forced its way into the premises on the evening of February 19, ransacking the building and putting a bus on fire. Another group of 100-150 people carrying rods, lathis and petrol bottles entered the school and set the building and school buses on fire.
The CBI cases have come at a time when the Jats are holding dharnas (sit-ins) to demand quota, withdrawal of FIRs registered during the last year’s agitation and those arrested therein. While chief minister Manohar Lal Khattar has already declined to withdraw cases related to heinous crimes, the two cases will send a strong signal to the protesters.