In view of the renewed agitation launched by certain sections of the Jat community in Haryana, Delhi Police on Sunday decided to impose prohibitory orders in sensitive areas bordering Haryana as a precautionary measure.
The decision to impose prohibitory orders under CrPC (Code of Criminal Procedure) Section 144 in areas along Delhi and Haryana border and other parts of the city has been taken as a precautionary measure.A Delhi Police Spokesperson
‘Will Avoid What Happened Last Time’
Rohtak Superintendent of Police (SP) requested that people stay calm, assuring that a lot of “peace-building measures have been devised to avoid what happened last time.”
The administration has requested everyone to keep their agitation peaceful, he said. The situation is constantly being monitored with permanent response teams having been set up.
Assocham too, appealed to the Haryana Government and Central agencies on Monday, urging them to take effective pre-emptive steps to ensure that it does not disrupt normal life in the state and the neighbouring areas.
The chamber said that strict vigilance must be maintained on all the water channels and resources in the state which are not only the supply sources to Haryana but also to neighbouring Delhi and other states.
Nine Districts on High Alert
At least nine districts in Haryana were on high alert on Sunday as a section of the Jat community renewed their agitation for reservation.
The Jat community has served a 15-day ultimatum to the Haryana government to implement reservation.
Reports said the agitators, who have started their agitation in rural areas instead of towns this time, had begun their protest rally at Mayyar village in Hisar district, Dhanana village in Bhiwani district, Jasia village in Rohtak district, Jhanj Khurd village in Jind district, Matloda village in Panipat district, and Pranpura Bawal village in Rewari district.
Over a hundred check posts were set up in areas, mostly bordering Haryana, and the police barricaded some roads near Singhu Border, on Nangloi-Bahadurgarh road and Karnal road, senior officials said.
Riot control teams have also been deployed in northwest and southwest Delhi. The police are taking no chances after the first round of protests in February, in which roads were blocked and agitation was witnessed in these parts of the city.
Haryana Additional Chief Secretary (Home), Ram Niwas, said 55 companies of para-military forces have been stationed to deal with the agitation.
Paramilitary forces and Haryana Police personnel were deployed at sensitive areas, including national and state highways and railway tracks to prevent blockades.
If people sit on dharnas or protest at places which have not been specified for the purpose, they would invite stern action against themselves. If any untoward incident occurred at such a spot because of any leader or any other person, that fellow would be held responsible for the untoward incident. Areas have already been specified for protests and dharnas.Ram Niwas, Haryana Additional Chief Secretary (Home)
The districts on high alert include Rohtak, Jhajjar, Sonipat, Jind, Bhiwani, Hisar, Fatehabad, Panipat, and Kaithal.
In Sonipat, orders have been imposed under Section 144 of the Criminal Procedure Code, prohibiting any assembly of five or more people at any place.
The administration in Sonipat district has banned all internet services to ward off any tension, fights, threats to human life, damage to property and deterioration in the law and order situation.
These services could also be used in illegal activities such as blocking roads, highways and railway tracks, damaging government property and disrupting essential services and supply of food. Social media such as WhatsApp, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Flickr, Tumblr, Google Plus and mobile internet could be misused for this purpose.K Makarang Pandurang, Sonipat Deputy Commissioner
Jat Leaders Assure Peaceful Protest
A section of Jat leaders have renewed the agitation after the Punjab and Haryana High Court recently stayed the notification of the BJP government in Haryana, led by Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar, giving reservation to the Jats and other communities.
The call for the renewed agitation has been given by the All-India Jat Aarakshan Sangharsh Samiti (AIJASS). AIJASS leader Yashpal Malik has given assurances that the protests would remain peaceful.
Haryana Police has cancelled the leave of all police personnel.
Haryana Additional Director General of Police Mohammad Akil said that police was fully geared up to meet any eventuality.
Former Phase of Agitation
Haryana saw the worst violence in its five decades of existence in February during the Jat agitation for reservation.
As many as 30 persons were killed, 320 others were injured, and property worth crores was destroyed during the agitation. The state remained paralysed for nearly 10 days.
(With inputs from agencies.)
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