The protesters also attacked in a bid to set on fire the house of Haryana minister Capt Abhimanyu, who was not inside.
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Curfew was imposed in three districts overnight and shoot-at-sight orders issued after mobs set fire to buildings and looted malls. A vehicle parked at the IGP office was also damaged, officials said.
The agitating students sat on the roads demanding reservation for their community, even as police were deployed to control the situation. “A vehicle parked outside the house was also set on fire by the mob which pelted stones on the house besides attempting to set it on fire”, said he.
Saini had earlier expressed objection over giving reservation to Jats and even threatened to resign if there was “any loss” to reservation quota for OBCs.
But Jat leaders threatened to continue their protests after talks with ruling BJP state government remained inconclusive.
That state saw weeks of protests by the privileged Patidar or Patel caste, who demanded special treatment to put them on an equal footing with lower castes.
“We have accepted all the demands of Jats demanding reservation to include the community in the backward class category”. The Jat leaders rejected Khattar’s request to call off the agitation, saying they will hold protests till the legislation to this effect is passed. “We had to run for safety”, Rajender Singh, a local police official told AFP.
Asking the BJP government in Haryana and Modi government at Centre “to refrain from divisive politics”, Surjewala called for effective steps, advising the government to follow its “rajdharma”.
Union Ministers Rajnath Singh, Manohar Parrikar, Sushma Swaraj and Arun Jaitley reviewed the violence in Haryana late last night.
As the violent job quota stir by the Jats of Haryana continued to spread, Haryana Director General of Police Yash Pal Singal said their priority is to restore law and order first.
Home Secretary P.K. Das said no untoward incident was reported from Rohtak, Bhiwani and Jhajjar districts, and that more army and para-military would be air-lifted to the violence-hit areas. “The BSF fired in self defence and one person was killed”, Singhal said, adding that the mob did not allow the injured trooper to taken to hospital initially. The BSF fired in self-defense and one person was killed.
On Thursday, two lawyers were injured and seven motorcycles set ablaze during clashes between members of the Punjabi community and lawyers in a case of mistaken identity.
Curfew continued in Rohtak and Bhiwani towns on Saturday.
The protestors who had gathered at the Rohtak bye-pass road of Delhi Hissar National Highway turned violent and allegedly attacked police vehicles which were parked there in which window panes were damaged, officials said.
Authorities suspended mobile internet services in Rohtak and warned against gathering of more than four people at a place.
“Some roads are blocked by the protesters”. Supply of commodities like milk, vegetables, LPG and petroleum has been affected. Several trains were cancelled by Railway authorities.
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In view of the blockades by the agitators, Haryana Roadways suspended its bus services on many affected routes.
