Bodies cremated, but Gurjjars stay put

But as sun sets, clouded by smoke from the five burning bodies, the Gurjjars, who have been congregating here from all 80 villages of the community in the district, seem to be in no mood to return home. Even as their leader Bainsla retreats under a tree for the evening, the word arakshan hangs in the air. “Bainsla can rest. We are here for our rights and will take position,” remarks 22-year-old Pradip Singh who will take his Class 12 exams next year.

“We have lost our men. There is no way we are leaving the tracks till we get arakshan,” says Kunwar Singh (30) after cremating the body of his 50-year-old father Dhumar Singh, who died in the firing on May 23. Singh is a jawan in the Indian Army posted at Amritsar and is on a 20-day leave. “I will ask my sons and brothers to take guard,” says Singh, the only earning member of his family.

Dharam Singh, who lost his elder brother Hira Singh, says: “We have been eating, bathing and sleeping here for the last 12 days. I have taken a small break to complete the last rites of my brother, but will be back tomorrow morning after the mourning is over.”

The state Government, meanwhile, has beefed up security by deploying the CRPF, RAF and local police at every village and checkpoint along the area. But the protestors camping here have decided to stop anyone from leaving the spot at night. “We have allowed women and childern to go back, but the men will continue to remain here. If they don’t, they will be punished by the sarpanch,” adds Singh.

The food for the protestors — from the sugary morning tea to the after-dinner dessert — is being supplied from nearby Jat villages who have been showing solidarity with the agitating group throughout.

With water tankers constantly supplying water, taurpaulins tents in place for shelter and the 80 nearby villages backing him, Bainsla is no mood to negotiate. “They had made some promises the last time and failed to keep them. This time we are staying put,” he said.

Meanwhile, autopsies on the 20 bodies in Sikandara are likely to be completed late on Tuesday night. The cremations are likely to take place on Wednesday.