Jat protest in Haryana: Deadline ends, security tightened in several towns

With Jat leaders threatening to resume agitation in case the BJP led Haryana government does not meet their demands by today, Haryana government has sought paramilitary forces from the Centre to be deployed in sensitive areas.

“Paramilitary force has been demanded (through state Home department) from the Centre and we will get the same,” IGP, Rohtak Range, Sanjay Kumar said today. He said additional police forces also been arranged from within the state. “We have made adequate police security arrangements.  We have adequate force and we are deploying it accordingly,” he said.

However, he refused to shed light on how many police personnel have been deployed to maintain law and order in case Jat leaders resume their agitation. “I cannot disclose it because of security considerations,” the IGP said.

Haryana police was criticised for its “failure” to prevent and control violence during the Jat agitation last month, in which 30 people lost their life. The then IGP Rohtak Shrikant Jadhav was suspended by Haryana government.

Several districts including Rohtak, the epicentre of Jat agitation, Jhajjar, Kaithal, Jind, Sonipat, Bhiwani had witnessed violence by arsonists and unruly mob.

The influential Jat community led by All India Jat Sangharsh Samiti had threatened to relaunch their agitation if the state’s BJP government did not meet their demands by March 17.

Jats are demanding 10 per cent quota in jobs and educational institutions, besides withdrawal of FIRs registered against the protesters, compensation to those killed during the stir and action against BJP MP from Kurukshetra Raj Kumar Saini for his “anti-Jat” reservation stand.

“On March 17, we will decide on the next mode of action on whether to block roads, railway tracks or any other type of agitation,” Samiti Chief Yashpal Malik had said yesterday.

Malik had said the state government must bring a Bill in the ongoing budget session of the Assembly to ensure reservation for Jats.