Jat quota stir: Army comes in as several districts continue to burn in Haryana

The ongoing Jat quota agitation in Haryana took a violent turn on Friday as three protesters were reportedly killed in clashes with security personnel — police confirmed that at least one person was killed in firing by BSF personnel.

By evening, shoot-at-sight orders were issued in Rohtak and Bhiwani and curfew was imposed in both these districts as well as Jhajjar. The army was called in and Section 144 was imposed in at least six districts of the state. (Express Photo by Gajendra Yadav)

The Centre rushed paramilitary forces as rampaging mobs held some policemen captive and set ablaze the house of Haryana Finance Minister Capt Abhimanyu, BJP MLA Maneesh Grover’s office and several government and private properties in Rohtak, Jhajjar, Hansi and several other parts of the state. (Express Photo by Gajendra Yadav)

Over 70 vehicles were torched in Rohtak and Bhiwani. Late in the evening, there were reports that a few protesters had looted a private “gunhouse” in Rohtak and decamped with arms and ammunition.

Violent clashes were also seen in parts of Jind, Hisar, Karnal, Kaithal, Panipat and Sonepat. Despite mobile internet and SMS services being blocked since early on Friday morning, armed protesters went on a rampage as word spread about “many casualties”. (Express Photo by Manoj Dhaka)

“One person lost his life as the BSF personnel returned fire after an unidentified person in the mob fired from his countrymade pistol, hitting a BSF constable in Rohtak,” said Haryana DGP Yash Pal Singal. (Express Photo by Gajendra Yadav)

In Delhi, Home Minister Rajnath Singh, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj and Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar met in the evening to take stock of the situation. A decision was taken to put additional central forces on standby. (Express Photo by Gajendra Yadav)

Fresh incidents of violence were Saturday reported in Haryana as the Jat stir for quota intensified with protestors torching a railway station in Jind even as the Army conducted a flag march in two curfew-bound districts and used helicopters to reach parts of the blocked Rohtak district. (Express Photo by Gajendra Yadav)

On Friday, Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar had called an all-party meeting in Chandigarh to discuss the Jats’ demand for inclusion in the Other Backward Castes (OBC) category. After the hour-long meeting, leaders of all political parties issued appeals asking protesters to maintain peace and harmony. But the appeals failed to pacify the protesters. (Express Photo)

As the violence by Jat protestors demanding quota continued unabated, Chief Minister Manohar Khattar issued a fresh appeal to the people to maintain peace. (Express Photo)

Railways on Friday decided to cancel over 100 trains passing Haryana and other regions affected by the agitation of Jat protesters. A number of trains were also either partially cancelled or their routes diverted. (PTI Photo)

The Haryana government has issued orders for blocking all social networking sites. “As and when the situation improves, these will be restored,” said the DGP. (Express Photo)

The Army conducted flag march in Rohtak and Bhiwani today where curfew remained in force. The Army could not enter Rohtak through road as protesters had put up blockades on Delhi, Hisar, Rohtak, and Fazilka highways, forcing the authorities to air drop them, official said. (Express Photo by Manoj Dhaka)