Jats in Bharatpur try to burn goods train engine

A mob tried to set ablaze the engine of a goods train in Rajasthan's Bharatpur district on Tuesday, as the Jat community continued its protest for the third day demanding reservation.

The protest badly affected road and railway traffic in Bharatpur district, over 170 km from state capital Jaipur.

Jats in Rajasthan are classified as Other Backward Classes (OBC), except for Jats of Bharatpur and Dholpur districts. Jats in Bharatpur are now demanding that they also be classified as OBCs.

Monday's talks between Rajasthan's Social Welfare Minister Arun Chaturvedi and Jat community leaders failed to arrive at a solution.

"The protesters have resorted to road and train blockades in some places, mainly between Bharatpur to Mathura, Jaipur and Agra and roads connecting various towns in the district," a police official told IANS on Tuesday.

Police resorted to baton-charge to control a mob in Deeg area of the district.

In Nadabi, Helak and Bharatpur city, protesters vandalised properties and shops, while in Khumer, they damaged two ATMS.

In Helak railway station, protesters tried to torch the engine of a goods train. They also tried to set ablaze a room in Paprera railway station.

However, police with the help of local administration officials were able to douse the fire in both the cases.

There were reports of stone pelting in some places.

Looking at the tense situation, the district administration has blocked mobile internet and internet service in the district.

Many trains in the Jaipur, Agra and Mathura sectors were cancelled while train traffic between the important Delhi-Mumbai sector was also affected.

Roads from Bharatpur to Delhi, Deeg, Alwar and Mathura were also blocked.

To maintain law and order, the district administration had earlier imposed Section 144 of the Code of Criminal Procedure banning unlawful assembly of people at public places.

Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje has appealed to the Jat community to maintain peace.

The protesters on Monday set ablaze a Rajasthan Roadways bus, and damaged another near Bharatpur city.