Haryana caste riots spread
Reports say three killed; Army stages flag march across towns
new delhi — Authorities imposed a curfew and issued shoot-on-sight orders in a northern state neighbouring New Delhi on Saturday, after spreading caste protests left at least one person dead and troops were deployed, officials said.
Television images showed mobs wielding sticks rampaging through the streets in northern Haryana state, setting fire to a local government minister’s house and railway stations, damaging train tracks and blocking two key highways.
The day before police had opened fire on protesters, killing at least one, as the week-long protest by the state’s dominant Jat caste, who are demanding quotas for government jobs and education, took a violent turn. With protests spreading across the state, more than 5,000 army and paramilitary troopers patrolled the streets to impose a round-theclock curfew in eight districts.
The army was forced to use helicopters to reach Rohtak district, the epicentre of the violent protests, after protesters blocked two highways connecting four northern states with the capital.
“One person is confirmed dead and five are critical. Eighty-eight others are injured,” Yash Pal Singal, Haryana police chief told reporters. Local news reports said three people had died in the violence.
Protesters damaged railway tracks and started fires at stations leading 600 trains to be cancelled since Friday, a spokesman for Indian Railways said. “Three rail stations were burnt down and several kilometres of track have been damaged,” Neeraj Sharma said. Jats, a comparatively affluent caste group, have been calling for quotas in government jobs similar to those allocated to lower castes, but other groups oppose their call. Home minister Rajnath Singh on Friday held meetings with security officials before dispatching additional troops to the state and appealed to protesters for peace.
But Jat leaders threatened to continue their protests after talks with Haryana’s right-wing Bharatiya Janata Party state government remained inconclusive.
No one will be benefited by damaging public property. Therefore, those agitating and the youth should maintain peace in the state”
Manohar Lal Khattar,
Chief Minister of Haryanar