Section 144 imposed in Haryana’s Rohtak after protests over Jat reservation turn violent

Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar has called for an all-party meet to discuss the demands of the community and restore order in the state.

Protests by Jats demanding reservation in Haryana turned violent on Thursday, forcing authorities to impose Section 144 in the Rohtak district, which prohibits the assembly of more than 10 people in an area. Several people were reported injured after demonstrators clashed with police personnel. Protesters were lathi-charged, and security forces resorted to hurling teargas shells at them. “The agitation will be taken to every state,” National President of the All India Jat Arakshan Sangharsh Samiti Yashpal Malik said, adding that protests will begin in Faridabad, Palwal and Karnal on Friday.

Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar held an emergency state cabinet meeting on Thursday to discuss the demands of the Jat community. They decided convene an all-party meeting on Friday. According to Rohtak Superintendent of Police Shashank Anand, 15 contingents of Border Security Force personnel were deployed to control the situation. Schools and colleges will remain closed till February 22 as a precautionary measure. Mobile Internet services were also blocked in Rohtak and Jhaggar to prevent rumours from spreading and worsening the situation.

Jats had rejected the state’s offer of inclusion in the economically backward class with 20% quota, saying they want reservation in government jobs under the OBC category. Khattar has asked a committee of Indian Administrative Service officers to look into the issue of Jat reservation and submit a report before the assembly session begins on March 17.