Jat Quota Death Roll-III: ‘Politicians come and go, but from where do we get our son back?’

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Among those who faced mob fury in Rohtak was Haryana’s Finance and Industries Minister Capt Abhimanyu, a Jat leader, whose family home and business establishments were specifically targeted.
READ: Jat quota death roll: ‘There are no jobs for youths here’

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Except for Rohtak, the other three districts do not have a substantial Jat population and are dominated by communities such as Dalits, Rajputs and Punjabis. However, Rohtak is significant for being the home district of Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar and ex-CM Bhupinder Singh Hooda. The Rohtak MP is Hooda’s son Deepender Hooda.

Rahul, 20, Madina village

Rahul was in BA 2nd year and depended on his father and elder brother Naveen, who together earned Rs 20,000-25,000 a month. Sachin, a third brother, is doing the Junior Basic Training teacher’s course. The family owns 4.5 acres of land.
After college, Rahul would go to play kabaddi at Rohtak stadium. On February 19 too, he went there but joined the Jat protesters on the Delhi bypass near Circuit House. He was shot dead allegedly in armed forces’ firing.

Pradeep, 23, Bharan village

A Class XII dropout, Pradeep drove an autorickshaw and made about Rs 200-300 a day. His brother Sandeep took care of the family’s 5-acre land. Together, the brothers earned Rs 5,000-7,000 a month, on which the family, including their parents, lived. On February 20, the Jat youth was lynched by a mob allegedly comprising members of other castes at the Bhiwani bus stand. The family got his body three days later. Police records, however, list as Pradeep as one of the rioters.

Manjit, 27, Kartarpura Indra Colony

Son of a daily wager, Manjit worked as a labourer for Rs 200-300 per day. Apart from his parents, he is survived by his wife and two children. The family belonging to the Dhanak caste has no land holdings.
On February 19 evening, Manjit was on his way home from work when he was brutally attacked, allegedly by Jats, on the Rohtak-Hisar road. Father Jai Bhagwan says he rushed to the nearest police post on hearing about the attack. “But police refused to accompany me to the spot. My son’s body lay on the road for more than 20 hours,” his father said. Cries Manjit’s mother Rajbala, “Politicians come and go, but from where do we get our son back?” While police records show Manjit was murdered, no arrests have yet been made in the case.

Ravinder, 31, Bohr village

Ravinder and his father were into property business. Neighbours say the Jat family’s land was acquired by the government during acquisition for the Industrial Model Township, and they lived comfortably. They owned at least three-four houses. Ravinder is survived by father Dharam Singh, his wife and three sons.

Late February 20 evening, Ravinder was lynched by a mob allegedly comprising other castes. Ravinder’s friend Yashpal says, “He had gone to drop one of our friends to the ITI. He was on his way back when a group of Balmikis hit him with rods and then used swords to kill him.”

Police records list Ravinder as among the rioters.

Naveen, 20, Purani Chungi village

A Class XII pass, the Saini youth depended on his brother Mohan’s income. He is survived by his brother, mother and three sisters. The family’s combined income is Rs 5,000-6,000 a month. Naveen was unmarried.
Naveen died on February 21 in firing allegedly from inside the residence of Safidon MLA Jasbir Singh Deswal (an Independent).
On February 22, a case was registered against Deswal and his son Jitender Singh but no arrests have been made.

Bir singh, 28, Chhapar village

A labourer and a Class XII pass, Bir Singh earned Rs 5,000-6,000 a month, which supported his entire family of six, including his mother and a younger brother, and his wife and two sons. The family, belonging to the Kashyap caste, doesn’t own any land.
Bir Singh was also shot in the firing allegedly coming from MLA Deswal’s house on February 21. The FIR in Bir Singh’s case mentions firing originating from the MLA’s residence, but no arrests have been made.

Puran, 30, Kalawar village

Puran, who had studied up to Class X, worked as a truck driver and earned Rs 5,000-7,000 a month. He is survived by his mother, wife and two children. The family does not own any land. On February 22, Puran, a Rajput, was lynched by a mob allegedly comprising Jats in Kalayat, Kaithal district. He had gone to attend a family wedding. Police have registered a murder case. No arrests have been made yet.

Mintu, 24, Lalpuru village

The Gujjar youth, who had studied only up to Class VIII, earned Rs 4,000-5,000 a month. The family, including his wife, infant son and an elder widowed sister, owns 5 acres of land. Mintu was shot on February 22, allegedly after he found himself in the midst of a Jat protest in Dhani Pal village. The Hisar deputy commissioner has given interim financial assistance of Rs 1 lakh to the family.