Curfew in Rohtak, Bhiwani as Jat stir worsens

Shoot-at-sight in curfew-bound-city areas; Army rushed in from Hissar and Jaipur

Curfew was imposed tonight in Rohtak and Bhiwani city limit areas and army was being rushed there in view of worsening situation with Jats agitating over reservation issue going on rampage there.

An official spokesman told PTI here tonight that curfew has been imposed with immediate effect in view of protesting mobs going on rampage and indulging in violence.

Shoot-at-sight orders were issued in curfew-bound city areas, as agitators overpowered and captured some law-enforecment personnel and targetted police vehicles. There was large-scale destruction of public and private property in Rohtak, Jhajjar and Hansi.

Army units are being rushed to Rohtak from nearby Cantonment at Hissar, about 50 km away, he said these will be deployed immediately in Rohtak and Bhiwani areas.

He said army units are also being rushed from Jaipur for deployment in other worst-affected areas of the state.

The army will assist the civil administration in restoring peace and law and order which worsened today shortly after an all party meeting here where an appeal was made for maintaining peace.

Two senior civil and police officers -- Principal Secretary (Home) A K Singh and ADGP of Haryana Police B S Sandhu -- have been rushed to Rohtak to coordinate with the army and the civil administration to restore normalcy.