Gujjar protest turns violent on fifth day

The fifth day of Gujjar agitation was marked by incidents of minor violence when protesters and people from another OBC community pelted stones at each other in Sikandra town of Dausa district in Rajasthan.

The incident took place when Gujjars reportedly targeted homes and tried to burn vehicles of people from the other community. Some miscreants misbehaved with women and tried to rob shops in the Sikandra market, which provoked the locals. Later, heavy police force was deployed which dispersed the crowd and took control of the situation.

Police registered a case against 100 Gujjars for creating nuisance and claimed that most of the agitators were outsiders. “The agitators who created nuisance were outsiders. They first blocked the highway at Sikandra crossing and later tried to rob some shops and teased women. Heavy police force has been deployed and the situation is under control,” said a senior police officer of Jaipur range.

About 14 companies of paramilitary forces have been deployed in Gujjar-dominated areas in eastern Rajasthan. In a joint operation with local police, paramilitary personnel cleared the Jaipur-Agra highway which was closed for last 24 hours. But the highway has not yet been opened for traffic. Market areas in villages and small towns in Gujjar-dominated areas remained closed on Monday.

Protesters continued to block Delhi-Mumbai rail route in Pilukapura village in Bharatpur district. About 85 trains have been diverted and 40 others cancelled so far. The North-Western Railway has also lodged a case against Gujjar leaders for damaging the railway property and forcefully interrupting the movement of the trains. Meanwhile, Gujjars on Monday rejected the state government’s proposal to hold talks in Jaipur. Gujjar leaders wrote a letter to the state government insisting that the second round of talks should be held in Bayana town, 15 km from Pilukapura village where the community members have blocked the railway tracks.

“We will not go to Jaipur for second round of talks. We will hold talks in Bayana only. I have given a letter to the government for this,” said Kirori Singh Bainsla, Gujjar leader.