AT STIR RIGHTS COMMISSION ASKS DCS ABOUT DETAILS OF INSTRUCTIONS ISSUED TO THE MILITARY FOR TACKLING RAMPAGING AGITATORS

Troops carry out a flag march during the Jat agitation in Rohtak. File photo

Deepender Deswal

Tribune News Service

Hisar, April 26

The Haryana Human Rights Commission (HHRC) has sought information from Deputy Commissioners (DC) about Army’s movement and action taken by troops to disperse the mob during the Jat agitation in February.Violence did not stop in districts where the troops were deployed. The district authorities had issued warnings that the Army had been given shoot-at-sight orders to deal with agitators, but experts raised questions about the proper utilisation of troops. Army officials had denied firing on the mob.Around 75 columns of troops were deployed in nine districts and they carried out flag marches carrying placards mentioning “Army” written in bold red letters.The state government had called in Army after local police and administration failed to control arsonists. The troops were deployed in Rohtak, Hisar, Jhajjar, Sonepat, Bhiwani, Fatehabad, Jind, Panipat and Kaithal districts.The HHRC has asked the Deputy Commissioners (DC) to submit reports about the Army’s movement in their respective districts from February 19 to 23. The commission has also asked whether or not troops used force or resorted to firing to disperse agitators.Besides, the DCs have been asked the places where Army was dispatched and the name of the officer deployed as the District Magistrate for the purpose of directing the military authorities.The letter sought details of instructions issued to the military for tackling the agitators.The HHRC had issued notice to the DCs in March to submit the replies within two weeks. Some of them are yet to respond.Director General of Police (DGP) KP Singh recently requested the commission to drop suo motu proceedings against the agitation, after which the HHRC rapped him and granted three more weeks (by May 17) to file the replies.

GPS location of

• cops being tracked
• Jhajjar: The cyber cell of the police is ascertaining the location of officials deployed in the district during the Jat agitation in February. Superintendent of Police (SP) Jashandeep Singh Randhava confirmed the development. “The GPS location of every police official deployed in the district during the stir is being tracked following directives of the higher authorities,” he said. A report would be sent to the higher authority and erring policemen would face action, the SP said. Sources said policemen, up to the inspector rank, were not in the district on February 19, 20 and 21 when the maximum damage was done. Unruly mob set ablaze several government offices, police stations, houses, business establishments and vehicles during the Jat stir. In all, 13 persons were killed in the district.