Ahirs to protest in city today for regiment, traffic to be regulated

Vehicular movement along the Delhi-Gurgaon Expressway will be likely disrupted for nine hours Friday with Ahirs planning to protest at Kherki Daula toll plaza on National Highway 48 (NH-48) to press for their demand for a separate regiment in the Indian Army. According to an advisory issued by the Gurugram traffic police on Thursday, the entire 14.8km section of NH-48 will be closed for traffic from 8am to 5pm on Friday.

Virender Singh Sangwan, deputy commissioner of police (traffic), said police teams have been deployed at all intersections to monitor traffic movement. “If anyone is found taking law and order in their hands, strict action will be taken against them,” said Sangwan.

Commuters from Delhi to Jaipur have been advised to take alternative routes via Golf Course Road Extension, Vatika Chowk, and SPR connecting

NH-48 to reach their destinations, said the traffic police.

The entire stretch on NH-8 will be closed for heavy vehicles and goods vehicles throughout the day.

The Sanyukt Ahir Regiment Morcha — a group comprising members of the Ahir community from south Haryana — has been spearheading the demand for a separate Ahir regiment in the Indian Army. Members of the group, which was registered as a trust in March 2021, led several protests in 2018 and sat on a hunger strike for nine days, before ending the agitation after assurances from politicians.

Dr Satish Yada , a member of the Sanyukt Ahir Regiment Morcha, said they will start their protest at Kherki Daula from 10 am.

“Members of our community have sacrificed a lot in all possible wars, and have won several gallantry awards,” he said.

“However, we have been ignored and despite several protests, our demand has not been met. There is still no regiment formed in our names, and we have not been recognised like the members of other communities,” he added.