Gurjjars court arrest peacefully, but numbers don’t add up

“All of them have not been officially arrested as yet. The formalities are going on. Those who have come forward to court arrest are being taken to temporary jails in buses and trucks,” State Home Minister Gulabchand Kataria told The Indian Express, adding that the total figure would not be anywhere near the 5 lakh mark that the Gurjjar leaders were claiming earlier.

However, the community saw a conspiracy in the state Government not providing the “actual” figures. “In Bharatpur alone, over 1 lakh Gurjjars would be courting arrest and the process is on,” said Gujjar leader Dr Roop Singh over the phone. He added that they were turning themselves in despite not knowing when they would finally come out.

Dr Roop Singh and Col Bainsla courted arrest around 9 pm. Roop Singh announced that all would go on a hunger strike if the Government tries to set them free and manipulates arrest figures.

Earlier, there was much speculation about where Col Bainsla would be courting arrest, and the Gurjjar agitation spearhead finally surrendered with his supporters at Bharatpur.

Talking to The Indian Express, he reiterated the Gurjjar Aarakshan Sangharsh Samiti’s demands that the state Government provide jobs to relatives of those who died in the police firing during the Gurjjar agitation four months ago as well as compensation for those who were injured.

“Moreover, we want that the cases filed against the protesting Gurjjars to be withdrawn and that the state Government to send the letter recommending ST status for the community at the earliest,” he stated.

Bharatpur Superintendent of Police Anand Srivastava said that till Tuesday evening about 7,000 people had courted arrest while close to 20,000 more would do so by the end of the day. “We are collecting the finger and thumb impressions of those who have courted arrest and they are being shifted to the 21 temporary jails constructed across the district,” he stated.

Dausa MP Sachin Pilot was among the 35,000 people who courted arrest at Mohana Mandi in Jaipur. According to the state Government, this was the largest gathering in the state. “At least 40,000-50,000 Gurjjars had gathered at Mohana Mandi. Everyone present there was keen to contribute to the agitation,” Pilot said, denying that the response had been more subdued than expected.

In Ajmer, 7,000 Gurjjars courted arrest while in Kota the figure was close to 10,000. In Jetaran in Pali district, 2,500 people courted arrest while at Rajsamand around 6,000 had turned themselves in.

Following reports that the police were releasing those who had courted arrest in Kota and Jaipur, expelled BJP MLA Prahlad Gunjal and his supporters went on a hunger strike at a temporary jail in Kota. He was later arrested by the police.

Arrests would continue through the night.