The protest by members from the Jat community in Haryana’s Rohtak spiralled out of control. The police opened fire on protestors which killed at least one person and injured 10 others.
Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh has informed Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar that 24 companies of paramilitary forces have been sent.
The injured people were rushed to the Post Graduate Institute of Medical Sciences. State Finance Minister Captain Abhimanyu’s house was attacked and his car was set on fire.
The police fired as the protestors attacked the residence of the inspector general of police and that of a state minister (Capt Abhimanyu).”Anil jain, BJP in-charge, Haryana
As the agitation entered its sixth day, protestors demanding reservation for Jats vandalised the DIG’s office and torched police vehicles. The protestors have also blocked railway tracks.
Meanwhile, Agriculture
Minister OP Dhankar has announced that the government has agreed to provide Special Backward Class (SBC)
status to Jats. The decision comes after an all-party meeting was held in Chandigarh. But the protestors have refused to kill their agitation till a legislation is brought in the state assembly.
The community will get SBC status and 10-20 percent reservation based on economic status as immediate relief.
Protesting Jats have been demanding Other Backward Classes (OBC) status in the list of castes eligible for reservations. At the moment, the community enjoys reservations in four states.
Internet and mobile services have already been suspended in the state following the unrest.
(With IANS inputs)
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