Security forces were stuck as the entry points to Rohtak were cut off; troops were outnumbered by protesters
CRPF PERSONNEL, WHO WERE SUPPOSED TO REACH ROHTAK, FOUND THE TIGRI BORDER BLOCKED IN THE WEE HOURS OF SATURDAY
ROHTAK/CHANDIGARH: The Army, requisitioned by the BJP government in Haryana following arson and violence in Rohtak, could not gain access to the district on Friday night as all roads leading to Rohtak were blockaded by Jat protesters.
RAVI CHOUDHARY & MANOJ DHAKA/HTJat community members holding a protest, seeking reservations in jobs and educational institutions, in Bahadurgarh; (right) army, BSF and police personnel taking out a flag march in Rohtak on Saturday.The troops landed only in the morning when air force helicopters were pressed into service to drop about 250 personnel at the Rohtak police lines. More Army reinforcements were airlifted and sent by the evening. In fact, it became apparent on Friday night that Army columns, which moved from Hisar and Jaipur, would find it impossible to get access to the trouble-torn Rohtak district. Chief secretary DS Dhesi also spoke to the Army authorities on this.
However, the problem did not end there. In the absence of Army vehicles, the mobility of troops was also affected. “The local administration did not have enough vehicles to carry the Army personnel. This hampered their movement, reducing their effect,” said a government official at Chandigarh.
The troops did conduct a flag march, but were forced to retreat when they were outnumbered by Jat protesters. As soon as the Army flag march started, thousands of protesters from nearby villages converged on Rohtak city in a display of show of strength and to counter the troops.
The paramilitary reinforcements rushed in by the ministry of home affairs, too, found themselves stuck. More than eight companies of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), which were supposed to reach Rohtak and surrounding districts, found the Tigri border blocked in the wee hours of Saturday and have been stationed here since then.
“It is all uncertain right now. We do not know for how long we will remain here. Everything is shut here. Not even tea is available,” said CRPF inspector RN Singh, who came from Aligarh.
Residential colonies and urban villages on NH 10 connecting Delhi and Rohtak via Bahadurgarh appeared fortified due to the presence of CRPF jawans.
“We have to reach Jhajjar but we have been told that protesters have dug up roads with JCB machines,” said Rahul Kumar, CRPF constable from Jaipur. “The internet does not work here. We have to make phone calls to people outside Haryana to get updates on the reservation issue,” he added.
Bahadurgarh resident Ram Kumar Yadav said: “I have seen protests before. But this is unprecedented.” Dropped by Army helicopters, the troops’ movement has been hampered due to inadequate transport support
State govt demands more army, CRPF companies
ENTRE HAS AGREED TO PROVIDE A CHOPPER TO HARYANA FOR MONITORING MEASURES TO CONTOL THE GROUND SITUATION, SAYS OFFICIAL SPOKESMAN
CHANDIGARH: The Haryana government on Saturday sought additional companies of Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) and more columns of army to be deployed in Haryana by Sunday morning to control the ongoing agitation in the state.
An official spokesman said that the requisition for additional force was made by the Crisis Management Group of Haryana comprising chief secretary, additional chief secretary, home, and director general of police, who held a meeting with Union cabinet secretary, chief of army staff, chief of air force and director, IB through videoconferencing on Saturday.
154 CASES REGISTERED
The spokesman said that 154 first information reports (FIRs) had been registered and miscreants were being identified against whom stern action would be taken.
He said four persons lost their lives in Jhajjar district when armed forces opened fire to quell arson and firing and one in Kaithal district. He said that five persons were injured in Rohtak district on Saturday. Besides, 10 persons, including some police personnel, were injured in Jhajjar district.
He said the army and police personnel had been deployed in adequate number in Rohtak to control the situation.
As many as 15 companies of India Reserve Battalion and Haryana Armed Police, three companies of paramilitary forces and two columns of the army had already been deployed.
He said that the central government had also agreed to provide a chopper to Haryana for monitoring the measures to control the agitation and also spray tear gas to disperse mob, especially at blockade sites.
He said Bhiwani remained peaceful whereas in Hisar district, two persons were injured in a village near Hansi as a result of a clash between two groups. They were now out of danger.
He claimed that nine districts have remained peaceful on Saturday. These were Fatehabad, Gurgaon, Sirsa, Rewari, Mahendragarh, Karnal, Kurukshetra, Faridabad and Palwal.
BJP top brass meets NSA, army chief to control chaos
We met party president and home minister and informed them about the situation in Haryana. The agitation is getting out of the control of agitators into the hands of those wanting to divide society.
BIRENDER SINGH, Union rural development minister and Jat leader
NEW DELHI: The Centre is bracing for the worst in Haryana amid reports of ‘extreme brutality’ committed against non-Jats in the state, senior government officials said here.
“There are reports that some extreme violence has taken place in Rohtak. It was a free-for-all kind of situation in Haryana – particularly in Rohtak and Jhajjar. There is an urgent need to bring the situation under control,” said an official, refusing to specify about the incidents of extreme violence.
In an effort to manage the crisis, senior Union ministers Rajnath Singh, Nitin Gadkari, Sushma Swaraj and Manohar Parrikar sat with national security adviser Ajit Doval, home secretary Rajiv Mehrishi, army chief Dalbir Singh and Intelligence Bureau chief Dineshwar Sharma and reviewed the situation.
A senior IPS officer of Haryana cadre posted in Delhi said reports of full-scale violence and arson that has taken place in Rohtak and adjoining areas are yet to emerge from curfew-clamped districts.
The BJP is already facing problems in Gujarat with Patidars led by Hardik Patel asking for castebased reservation.
Besides, any acceptance or non-acceptance of the demand will affect the Jat population in neighbouring states, particularly in western UP, sources said.
The Centre on Saturday airlifted more security personnel to Rohtak in particular.
Cabinet secretary PK Sinha also reviewed the situation with the chief secretary and police chief of state through video conferencing and asked them to maintain law and order.
“The home minister is in regular touch with Haryana chief minister Manohar Lal Khattar,” an aide to the minister said.
Rajnath Singh also met senior Jat leaders from western UP and Haryana late in the evening to listen to their demands.