Chandigarh: Ten persons have been killed and about 150 injured during the ongoing Jat stir, Haryana DGP Yashpal Singhal said on Sunday even as he underlined that his priority was to restore water supply to Delhi and clear road and rail blockades.
"According to the information we have so far, in entire state 10 people have been killed and about 150 injured," he said.
According to police sources, four persons injured on Saturday in firing in Jhajjar succumbed to injuries last night, taking the death toll to 10. The 10 killed belonged to Jhajjar, Rohtak and Kaithal districts.
The DGP said his top priority was to restore disrupted water supply to Delhi from Haryana which has got affected due to the Jat stir.
Disruption in water supply to Delhi from Haryana's Munak canal due to the Jat agitation has severely affected water supply to the national capital.
"Our first priority is to restore Delhi's water supply, from Akbarpur Barota point (in Sonipat). Police, para forces and technical team of Haryana's Irrigation department has reached there and we are trying to restore it immediately so that Delhi residents are not inconvenienced," the DGP, who addressed a press conference along with Home Secretary PK Das, said.
Singhal said that so far close to 50 people have been rounded up for indulging in violence and arson and action is being taken against them as per law.
"We came up with district-wise plan of action, which we implemented and because of which we are seeing positive results," he said, adding security forces had also launched "night dominance" because of which "positive results" had started coming out.
Asked if protesters had blocked many new points between Kaithal and Ambala, besides blocking the crucial Shimla highway in Panchkula district, he said, "We are verifying these. We will initiate appropriate action in this regard".
When asked if the present Jat stir was a law and order problem or a political problem, the DGP said, "This is an emotional issue, reservation is an emotional issue therefore many people are involved. Expectations of people from a particular community is that they should get reservation.
"Now, as this issue has been going on, law and order problem has also cropped up and we are committed to restore order," he said.
Asked why Army was not given a free hand to bring the situation under control, he said, "Army is deployed in aid of civil administration. There is no such provision in law to give the Army a free hand. They have to take orders from the magistrates."
To a question as to why police was going soft on protesters, the Home Secretary Das said, "The issue is emotive outside, but we have to keep calm. Definitely, it is a matter of great regret that such a situation happened in our state. First priority is to tackle the issue at political and administrative level and lastly police action is taken."
He admitted that "it is possible that in a particular instance police may have delayed taking action".
However, he said, "First of all, Army is never given a free hand nor does the Army seek free hand. It is the civil administration which assesses the situation and decides Army's role accordingly."
On reports that some officers in civil and police administration are supporting the agitators, Das said, "I want to say this kind of apprehension was kept before us. Strict message has been given in districts that no officer or any lower rank official, if they leave the field, or if they do not comply with the orders which have been given, then strict action will be taken. This message has gone out very clearly".
"Yesterday, police force was out in full strength and whatever orders have been given, they were complied with," Das said.
Asked if Haryana was drifting towards caste violence, Das said, "Today, it is not possible to say anything on this. However, petty incidents have taken place. I am hopeful when we are in full control of the present situation, everyone will think over it and come to know that these (indulging in violence) are not good things."
To a question that some women and children have been stranded during the stir and were without food, Das said, "We have reviewed it and we are trying to evacuate these people. Already an action plan has been formulated."
Comments
0 comment