Jat quota stir: Curfew imposed, Army on standby as 1 killed in Haryana

Protests by Jat community - demanding reservation in government jobs and educational institutions under OBC category - took an ugly turn on Friday in Rohtak after one person was killed and the house of state finance minister Captain Abhimanyu was attacked by the agitators who even tried to set it on fire.

The protesters reached the capital as there was heavy police deployment near Mundka Metro station. The mob blocked the traffic and the National Highway (NH 10) was also completely blocked. Hundreds of trucks with food supplies and LPG cylinders were stranded.

Sensing deteriorating law and order situation, curfew has been imposed in some parts of Haryana including Rohtak and Bhiwani.

According to army sources, Army stations in Haryana region have been alerted for any possible deployment. Army has kept columns ready for any deployment as per state government's requirement.

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal blamed the BJP playing divisive politics and asked the protesters to maintain peace and calm.

Sources said one person received bullet injury allegedly in police firing. He was rushed to the Post Graduate Institute of Medical Sciences (PGIMS) in Rohtak where he was reportedly declared brought dead.

Former OSD to Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar, Jawahar Yadav said, "There were reports of attack on state finance minister's house and according to the initial report he and his family members are safe."

The members of Jat community intensified their protest after police allegedly fired aiming at the protestors who refused to lift road blockades at Delhi bypass in Rohtak and Sohna Road in Gurgaon causing severe traffic problems.

An eyewitness claimed that police allegedly opened fire after the protesters set a police jeep on fire and damaged two others.

Initially the state police tried to resolve the issue through dialogue with the Jat leaders. However, repeated pleas to the agitators went unheard. They burnt police vehicles, blocked traffic in most parts of the state.

Road and rail routes were blocked around Rohtak town. The Rohtak-Delhi railway track has also been blocked and road transport services were badly hit.

Speaking to the reporters, Yashpal Malik, national president of All India Jat Arakshan Sangharsh Samiti, said, "We will continue to raise our voice against the state government against the indifferent attitude towards us. Our agitation has spread across 19 out of 21 districts. The remaining two districts are Panchkula and Yamunanagar and we will spread our agitations in these districts soon."

Meanwhile, the state police rubbished allegation of firing and claimed that the agitators were involved in the gun shots. "The local protesters fired aiming at the policemen who have brought country-made pistol with them. We have intensified out vigil and trying to bring the situation under control," police sources said.

A large contingent of police force including two companies of BSF rushed to the spot sensing more trouble in the area.

Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar held an all-party meeting on Friday to discuss the quota agitation and requested the agitators to maintain law and order situation in the state.

ALSO READ: Haryana Jat agitation for OBC quota: Non-Jat CM ML Khattar's big test

Earlier in the day, internet and mobile SMS services have been suspended indefinitely by authorities in Rohtak district in the wake of protests.

"Internet and SMS services have been suspended till further orders in Rohtak," Rohtak SP Shashank Anand had said.

Police and the paramilitary troops staged a flag-march to prevent any untoward incident.