28 dead, 200 injured during Jat agitation: Haryana DGP

“I appeal to people not to believe in rumours being spread by anti-social elements,” the DGP said in a statement this evening.

The Haryana government Wednesday decided to appoint Prakash Singh, a retired IPS officer and Padma Shri recipient, to inquire into acts of omission and commission on the part of police and civil administration officials during the agitation. He will submit his report within 45 days. Two serving officers of the state, each drawn from IAS and IPS cadres shall assist Prakash Singh, who has served as police chief of Uttar Pradesh and Assam.

Urban Local Bodies Minister Kavita Jain has asked people whose properties have been damaged during the agitation to file claims within three days so that disbursement of compensation could begin by February 29, 2016.

The government has decided that applicants can claim up to 25 per cent of their loss, judged on the basis of self-assessment, as interim relief. Government has uploaded a proforma on the website of urban local bodies— ulbharyana.gov.in.

Randeep Singh Surjewala, chairman of the AICC media cell, Wednesday criticised Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar for “remaining mute spectators despite the explosive situation”.

Surjewala alleged: “The state government was responsible for the violence that took place during the Jat agitation, the loss of precious lives and Rs 35,000 crore economic loss. Strict action should be taken against those involved in raping women in Sonipat… a blot on civilised society”.

Surjewala also sought time-bound inquiry by a judge of the High Court or Supreme Court into the violence.

“The compensation to affected shopkeepers, traders and others should be given within 72 hours. Immediate action should be taken against police and the administration officials who remained mute spectators and did not take any action,” Surjewala said.

Former Haryana CM Bhupinder Singh Hooda, who had earlier faced mob fury, said, “For the devastation in Rohtak, I also feel the same pain and grief as its residents are feeling. I had come to Rohtak to share the pain and grief of people and the anger shown by them was natural. I accepted their anger with humility and will make efforts for their rehabilitation and getting them full compensation for their losses. Due to carelessness and failure on the part of the state government, huge loss was caused to shops, showrooms, malls, dhabas, hotels, houses etc and innocent lives were lost.”