Haryana On Guard As Jats Begin Fresh Agitation Today

Anticipating a repeat of February's violent protests by Jats in Haryana, the police and administration have prepped strong.

CHANDIGARH:  The Jat community in Haryana will begin a second round of agitation starting today to press on their demand of an increased quota in government jobs and educational institutes. Anticipating a repeat of February's violent protests which claimed at least 30 lives and injured hundreds, the police and administration have prepped strong.

55 companies of paramilitary forces have been deployed in the state to check violence during the 15-day protests. Section 144 against unlawful gatherings has also been imposed in Jhajjar, Sonipat, Rohtak, Panipat, Hisar, Fatehabad, Jind and Kaithal which also covers national highways. A dedicated helpline has been provided which will be monitored by a control room in Chandigarh round-the-clock. Bulk SMS and mobile internet have been suspended in Sonipat and Rohtak districts till further notice.

A section of the community spearheaded by All India Jat Arakshan Sangharsh Samiti will hold fresh protests in 15 places in the state. They say they are unhappy with the state government's quota bill which they anticipate could also be rejected by the Supreme Court on grounds of keeping total reservations under 50 per cent.

In the first phase, the protesters have promised to not block highways or railway lines and stay clear of the cities, but have warned of intensifying the agitation if their demands are not met, which also include withdrawal of criminal cases against Jats during the violent protests in February.

Dharnas are planned in 15 villages in as many districts in Haryana - Mayyad of Hisar, Dhanana of Bhiwani, Atela in Dadri, Jasiya in Rohtak, Dhani Gopal in Fatehabad, Nathusari Chaupta in Sirsa, Jhanj Khurd in Jind, Ballaganv in karnal, Titarmod in Kaithal, Jainpur in Kurukshetra, Matloda in Panipat, Pranpura-bawal in Rewari, Anaaj Mandi in Sonipat and Hussainimod in Ambala.

However, the umbrella body of Jat khaps (clans), the Sarva Jatiya Sarv Khap Mahapanchayat has said that it will not support the protests this time. The group of prominent Jat leader Hawa Singh Sangwan has also decided against participating.

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'Bombs Everywhere': Mathura Cult's Children Were Trained In Arms

NDTV spoke to three children who recounted the horror of Mathura clashes

A cult at the centre of deadly clashes in Mathura that was running a parallel judicial system and had its own constitution, jails and several "battalions" of soldiers, also gave arms training to children, a senior police officer has said.

"Children as young as eight years old were being given training in arms," senior police officer DC Mishra told AFP news agency.

Some 3,000 followers of the sect, Swadhin Bharat Vidhik Satyagrah, clashed with the police in Mathura during an eviction drive on Thursday, which left 24 people, including two senior police officers, dead. The sect virtually ran a republic in the 260-acre park in Jawahar Bagh area since late 2014, with the site almost entirely closed off to the outside world.

Nine children, who were living in the illegal colony, were sent to a children's home in the city yesterday. NDTV spoke to three of them, all aged 9, who recounted the horror of the night of violence.

24 people had died in the Jawahar Park of Mathura on Thursday when the police had gone to evict the 3000-strong encroachers.

"We hid behind the trees. Bombs were being thrown around, stones hurled, bullets fired everywhere," said Abhinav (name changed). He added that they were taken to Govind Nagar jail in Mathura before being brought to the children's home.

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