Rohtak :Army was called in today in nine districts of Haryana and curfew was imposed in two districts along with shoot-at-sight orders after one person died and 25 were injured during the Jat stir for quota which turned violent with mobs resorting to widespread arson.
The Centre also rushed 3,300 personnel of paramilitary forces as rampaging mobs held some policemen captive besides setting ablaze the house of state’s Finance Minister Abhimanyu and several government and private properties in Rohtak, Jhajjar, Hansi and several other parts of the state.
Schools were ordered to be closed tomorrow across the state and mobile internet services were suspended in almost all the districts.
The agitationists, who are seeking reservation under Economically Backward Classes, also targeted police and private vehicles, buildings housing offices, including two Toll Plazas at Hansi in Hissar district and near Rohtak, both located on the Delhi-Hisar-Fazilka National Highway.
One protestor was killed in Rohtak when the BSF personnel opened fire in “self-defence” after someone from the rampaging mob fired at and injured a BSF jawan, Haryana DGP Yashpal Singhal told a press conference in Chandigarh.
“There is only one death while three are critically injured,” said Rohtak Deputy Commissioner D K Behera late this evening dismissing media reports that two more people have died in the BSF firing.
Vice-Chancellor of Rohtak-based Pandit Bhagwat Dayal Sharma University of Health Sciences, O P Kalra also said there was only one death.
“Death of more persons is just a rumour. There was only one death and he was brought dead in our emergency,” he said, adding a total of 62 patients were admitted to PGIMS hospital for treatment.
“Out of them 22 had bullet injuries while rest of had physical injuries,” he said.
“Out of total patients, three were still critical who are in ICU. Of them, one patient has injury in head while two have abdominal bullet injuries,” he further said.
Among injured, five were security personnel, he further said.
Since the situation was going out of control, army has been called in for deployment in eight worst-affected districts—Rohtak, Jhajjar, Jind, Bhiwani, Hissar, Kaithal, Panipat and Sonipat, the state police chief said.
Army is also being rushed to Karnal, army sources said in Delhi, while informing that nine columns are being sent altogether.
Tonight, curfew was imposed in city limit areas of Rohtak and Bhiwani city limit areas, an official spokesman told PTI.
The agitation, which has been going on for last few days, escalated and turned violent soon after an all-party meeting held by Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar issued an appeal for calling it off.
The protesters rejected the appeal even as Khattar gave an assurance that a solution will be worked out to extend reservation to the community.
Army units were being rushed to Rohtak from nearby Cantonment at Hissar, about 50 kms away, the official spokesman said, adding these will be deployed immediately in Rohtak and Bhiwani areas.
PTI