Security tightened at key canal supplying water to Delhi

With the Jat community threatening to launch a fresh agitation for reservation, security was today beefed up at a key canal in Sonipat district which supplies water to Delhi.
Prohibitory orders under Section 144, banning assembly of five or more persons, was also imposed in Sonipat, which along with Rohtak had been the epicentre of the Jat quota agitation earlier this year, official sources said today.
While central forces were deployed in many sensitive districts across the state, security has been strengthened at Munak canal, the sources said.
Protesters had disrupted water supply to the national capital by damaging the Carrier-Lined Channel (CLC) of Munak Canal during February's agitation.

Haryana Finance Minister Capt Abhimanyu had yesterday said the government would not allow the recurrence of a similar situation in the state.
Two days back, a sedition case was registered against Jat Sangharsh Samiti chief Yashpal Malik and 125 others for allegedly threatening peace and communal harmony in Haryana by instigating people to launch a fresh quota agitation.

The Samiti also held a meeting in Delhi today to chalk out its future course of action.
Unmoved by the FIRs registered against many Jat leaders, Yashpal Malik has maintained they would go ahead with their stir on June 5, which will begin after a meeting in Hisar district.

Jat community leaders from several states including Haryana, Punjab, Rajasthan and UP would be participating in the meeting next Sunday.
Samiti leaders have alleged that Haryana Government was misusing the police force to suppress their right to freedom of speech and expression.
Earlier this week, Punjab and Haryana High Court had stayed the reservation for Jats and five other communities provided by the Haryana government under a newly carved Backward Classes (C) category.
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Security has been heightened in Jind with a company of Border Security Force reaching the area. They will be joined by more than six companies of paramilitary forces.

Jind SP Rakesh Arya today said additional police officers will be stationed to prevent any untoward incident.
Meanwhile, police have arrested two persons here on charges of damaging property and indulging in arson and loot during the Jat quota agitation in February.
Sandip and Ashok, residents of Kalwa, were arrested from their residence today.
They were allegedly among a group of agitators who had set Pillukheda police station afire besides looting its armoury on February 21. They also damaged governmental offices and set them ablaze as well.