No violence in Haryana, NH-1 opens; Jat quota panel meets in Delhi

Chandigarh, February 23

The situation on Tuesday remained tense in some parts of Jat-dominated areas like Rohtak and Sonepat while curfew was lifted in Jind district, even as security personnel stepped up efforts to clear the blockades put up by protesters on various state highways.

Meanwhile, the vehicular traffic has been resumed on NH-1 at Panipat following the lifting of blockades.

Barring a relief of one-hour, curfew remained in force in Rohtak, which has been the epicentre of the pro-quota agitation in Haryana and has seen loss of lives and maximum damage to property.

A meeting of the panel led by Union Minister Venkaiah Naidu to look into the Jat quota demand was held in New Delhi. Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar attended the meeting.

Union Minister Sanjeev Baliyan, a member of the panel, said a way out will soon be found to give reservation to Jats.

Owing to the Jat agitation, train services were hit on Tuesday as well with the Railways cancelling 210 more trains, including Kalka Shatabdi, Ludhiana Shatabdi and Himalayan Queen.Three Shatabdi trains between Chandigarh and New Delhi were also resumed.

“During the last 24 hours, there has been no report of any untoward incident in the district,” said a senior official of Rohtak Police.

He said curfew will continue to be imposed in the Jat dominated district till there is complete normalcy.

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“We are giving relief in curfew for like one hour depending upon the situation to allow people to buy essential items,” he further said.

Meanwhile, body of a 24-year-old youth, a resident of Lalpura village near Hansi in Hisar district, was recovered from fields today. There were also reports of firing in Hansi town. No fresh incident of violence has been reported in the district so far, SSP Ashwin Shenvi said.

In Jind, another Jat-dominated area, the district administration has lifted curfew.

“We have lifted the curfew. There is about 80 per cent normalcy in  Jind district. But we are on the watch,” Jind Deputy Commissioner, Vinay Singh said over phone.

The agitation has thrown normal life out of gear with road and rail traffic on key routes, including the Delhi-Ambala and Delhi-Hisar-Fazilka National Highways hit, even as security personnel were making efforts to clear the blockades put up by protesters on highways.

Yesterday, sporadic incidents of arson were reported in Sonepat, Kaithal and Hisar which derailed the normalcy process which commenced after the BJP announced setting up of a committee to examine the quota demand of the community.

Three persons were yesterday killed in Sonepat during a clash when security personnel trying to clear a road blockade were attacked by stone-pelting mobs, raising the death toll to 19 in the stir so far.

Following fresh incidents of arson and violence yesterday, curfew was reimposed in five villages of Hansi sub-division, Hisar city limits and Kaithal.

Following the incidents of violence and arson, curfew was imposed in Rohtak, Bhiwani, Jhajjar, Jind, Hisar, Hansi, Sonepat, Kaithal, and Gohana town of Sonipat.

The All-India Jat Aarakshan Sangharsh Samiti  (AIJASS) yesterday had announced lifting of dharnas on national and state highways in view of the BJP announcing setting up of a committee under a Central minister to examine the quota demand for the Jat community.

Industry body PHD Chamber of Commerce and Industry has pegged the loss of economic activity due to the Jat agitation at Rs 34,000 crore.

The Haryana government had yesterday said that it would fully compensate people whose private property was damaged during the Jat agitation.

It also announced a relief of Rs 10 lakh to the family of each deceased. — PTI/TNS