Army to get advance orders to control civil violence: Minister

Army officers leading troops will be given advanced magisterial orders to take action against trouble makers indulging in violence in civil areas, union Minister of State for Defence Rao Inderjit Singh said on Tuesday.

Asked why the army failed to control violence in Haryana during the Jat agitation for reservation in government jobs and educational institutions, he said the army could not do much in violence-hit Haryana as the civil administration failed to respond to its queries.

Trouble makers burnt houses, business outlets, vehicles and other properties during the agitation, causing losses worth around Rs.20,000 crore, as estimated by an industry lobby.

Thirty people were killed during the strike that continued for nearly 10 days.

The minister said such orders or powers will be made available to the army officer leading the troops before any deployment in future anywhere in the country.