Update, 8:40 p.m.: Curfew has reportedly been imposed in Haryana's Rohtak and Bhiwani towns after some people from the local Jat community resorted to violence during their protest demanding reservation in government jobs and educational institutions under the Other Backwards Classes (OBC) category.
The state administration has issued shoot-at-sight orders in the two cities, according to Press Trust of India.
Curfew imposed in city areas of violence-hit Rohtak and Bhiwani in Haryana.
— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) February 19, 2016
Shoot-at-sight orders issued in curfew-bound city areas of violence-hit Rohtak and Bhiwani in Haryana. — Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) February 19, 2016
Original Story:
One person died and nine were injured on Friday after the Haryana Police reportedly opened fire on people protesting over reservations for the Jat community in the state.
The police retaliated when protesters tried to set fire to the houses of Haryana Minister Captain Abhimanyu Sindhu and the inspector general. They also set a police vehicle were on fire, the Hindustan Times reported.
Earlier, mobile internet services were shut down in Rohtak, where most of the violent clashes have been going on. On Thursday, Section 144 of CrPC, which prohibits assembly of more than 10 people in an area, was imposed in the area as protesters turned violent and damaged property.
"Mob vandalised the DIG office and police vehicles.Then one of the protesters shot a BSF Jawan. In retaliatory fire by BSF, one protester has been killed and few others injured. Railway tracks and roads being blocked is causing inconvenience to locals, appeal to protesters to stop agitation. The mob is not letting injured BSF jawan taken to hospital. Yes, we have talked to the Army chief and defence minister about the requirement of Army personnel," Yashpal Singhal, DGP Haryana, told ANI.
The Border Security Force was brought to the area as Jat leaders refused to stop protests, demanding Other Backward Classes (OBC) reservation in educational institutions and in employment for their community.
Matters had escalated on Thursday as the police and the paramilitary lathi-charged and hurled tear gas shells at the groups, NDTV reported. Unidentified people pelted stones and set fire to vehicles.
Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar had urged the community to maintain peace and harmony. However, protesters refused saying that the chief minister did not understand as he was not from the same community.
A flag march was held by paramilitary forces in Rohtak and additional forces have been deployed in Rohtak, Jhajjar and Sonepat.
The agitation has been going on for six days now. Supply of food, functioning of schools, roadways and railways were affected due to the spread of the protests to various parts of Haryana on Thursday, as Jat leaders and the government were unable to come to an agreement.
Jat leaders, who met Khattar on Thursday on the issue, rejected the offer of extending quota from 10 to 20 percent under Economically Backward Classes to include Jats. Jats, however, demand that they should be categorised under OBC.
In July 2015, the Supreme Court had dismissed review petitions by the Central government and Jat organisations who filed for OBC status for the community, the Times of India reported. In March, the SC had declared the Centre's decision seeking OBC quota for Jats as unconstitutional.
