Jat leaders on Sunday began a fresh quota agitation in Haryana even as over 5,000 paramilitary personnel were deployed along with large contingents of the state police to maintain law and order.
Jat leaders in Jassia village of Rohtak district – the epicentre of violence during the February stir – began the agitation by performing a ‘havan’.
Jats owing allegiance to All India Jat Aarakshan Sangharsh Samiti (AIJASS), which gave the call for the protest, have pitched a tent along the Rohtak-Panipat highway just outside Jassia.
AIJASS is holding dharnas in 15 of the state’s 21 districts.
We are committed to holding dharnas in a peaceful manner.Rambhagat Malik, President, AIJASS Hisar
Certain other Jat leaders have also expressed a similar view.
A Jat leader in Jassia said that in addition to their quota demand, they also want withdrawal of “false” police cases registered against community members during the previous stir, status of martyrs for those killed and jobs for their next of kin, besides compensation for the injured.
Central forces, along with the state police, have carried out flag marches in several sensitive towns, including Rohtak, Sonipat, Bhiwani, Hisar, Jind, Kaithal and Jhajjar.
Paramilitary forces and the state police are maintaining a close vigil on national highways and railway tracks, which the protesters had blocked for several days during the earlier agitation.
Inputs: PTI
Video Editor: Mohd Ibrahim
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