The Haryana government formed a crisis management team as the agitation escalated and protestors blocked water supply to the capital. However, in spite of the curfew, violence has not ceased.
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Chief of Army Staff General Dalbir Singh, National Security Advisor Ajit Doval, Director of Intelligence Bureau Dineshwar Sharma, Union Home Secretary Rajiv Mehrishi, Road Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari and Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar were also present for the meeting at Rajanth’s residence in New Delhi.
A local police officer in Jhajjar, whose district borders that of Rohtak, earlier told AFP that five people were killed on Saturday “when the army opened fire on a mob”. The mob ransacked and set ablaze a mall, petrol pumps and several shops. A police station and a railway station was set on fire in Jind district, a “dharamshala” (free hostelry) was set on fire in Jhajjar and buses were set on fire in Julana and Kaithal towns.
Four people were killed in clashes between security forces and protesters, said Federal Rural Development Minister Chaudhary Birender Singh.
As violence and arson spread to several parts of Haryana state, the Haryana government sought additional companies of Central Reserve Police Force and more columns of Army to be deployed in the state to control the agitation.
There were also reports of some damage to public property, including buses, in some areas, police said.
The Jat quota stir today reached Delhi as agitating community members held demonstrations at various places, leading to severe disruption of traffic on several arterial roads.
The unrest disrupted supplies of components for Maruti Suzuki India Ltd., the nation’s biggest carmaker, forcing it to temporarily halt production Saturday at its factories in Manesar and Gurgaon that jointly produce about 5,000 vehicles a day, according to a statement from the company.
Indian National Lok Dal (INLD) leader Abhay Chautala demanded that the Khattar government be dismissed and president’s rule be imposed in view of the deteriorating situation.
Former Haryana Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda began his indefinite hunger as he called for peace and harmony in the state.
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Refusing to name off the quota agitation, a number of Jat leaders demanded the Haryana authorities to promulgate an ordinance to incorporate the group in the OBC class if it needed peace and normalcy in the state.
