The Army was called in for deployment in eight districts of Haryana after one person was killed and 21 injured in police action as the Jat stir for quota turned violent. The rampaging mobs even set ablaze the house of the State Finance Minister, besides several government and private properties.
Protestors also took some police personnel captive besides going on rampage at many places including Rohtak, Jhajjar and Hansi targeting police and private vehicles, buildings housing offices, including two Toll Plazas at Hansi in Hissar district and near Rohtak, both located on the Delhi-Hisar-Fazilka National Highway.
The agitation, which has been going on for last few days, escalated and turned violent soon after an all-party meeting held by Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar issued an appeal for calling it off but it was rejected by the protestors.
Khattar gave an assurance that a solution will be worked out to extend reservation to the community.
One protestor was killed in Rohtak when the BSF personnel opened fire in “self-defence” after someone from the rampaging mob fired at and injured a BSF jawan, Haryana DGP Yashpal Singhal told a press conference in Chandigarh.
Since the situation was going out of control, the Army was called in for deployment in Rohtak, Jhajjar, Jind, Bhiwani, Hissar, Kaithal, Panipat and Sonipat, Singhal said.
About 20 companies (around 2,000 personnel) of central paramilitary forces have been sought from the Centre, police said.
Today, for the first time, rail and road traffic on the Delhi Ambala National Highway and mainline railway route was also blocked by protestors at various places including in Sonipat district.
Agitation of anarchists: BJP
The BJP on Friday said the Jat agitation for reservation has become leaderless and was being fuelled by “anarchists” and warned that those indulging in violence will be dealt with sternly. “They (protesters) know the reality. The State government is doing everything within its powers. We had been dealing with them patiently. It is not possible that they keep attacking and we coddle them,” BJP General Secretary and Haryana in-charge Anil Jain told media persons in New Delhi.