Jat stir: Army called in, mob on rampage in Rohtak

With a mob going on the rampage in Haryana's Rohtak town, setting property and vehicles on fire, authorities in Haryana called in the army in eight districts, including the worst affected Rohtak, on Friday after the agitation by Jat protestors turned violent.

Haryana DGP Y.P. Singhal told media here that the army has been called in, in Rohtak, Jhajjar, Sonipat, Panipat, Jind, Kaithal, Bhiwani and Hisar districts.

"The government has asked the army to be called in eight districts. The request has been sent (by the government). The chief secretary has spoken to the army chief. The chief minister has spoken to Defence Minister (Manohar Parrikar). The effort is to deploy the army as soon as possible to control the situation," the DGP told media here.

He said that a leader-less mob of the Jat community was moving around in Rohtak town and resorting to violence.

He said that someone from the protestors fired at Border Security Force (BSF) personnel in Rohtak town.

"One person from mob fired on BSF personnel with a country-made weapon. The BSF fired in self defence and one person was killed. The mob is not allowing the injured BSF jawan to be shifted to hospital. We are trying to rescue him," the DGP said.

The DGP said that a mob attacked a Haryana police DSP and other policemen near the Maharishi Dayanand University gate. He said that the officer and other policemen were held captive in a nearby agro-mall and more forces had to be sent to rescue them.

"A leaders-less mob is moving through Rohtak town. They came near the Circuit House and damaged the vehicle of the DIG, two police Gypsys and set on fire a police Tavera vehicle," Singhal said.

The mob set the house of Finance Minister (Abhimanyu) on fire and damaged the property.

"As per inputs, the mob is moving towards the Police Lines and we are trying to stop them," the DGP said, adding that three companies of paramilitary forces were already stationed and 20 more companies would be deployed in Haryana soon.

No decision has been taken on imposing curfew (in Rohtak) yet, he said.

The DGP appealed to the protestors to end the blockades on the roads and railway tracks.