By IANS
Jaipur/New Delhi : Two people were killed in Rajasthan Thursday in fresh clashes between members of the Gujjar community and police, taking the toll since Tuesday to 19, even as the state government and Gujjar leaders demanding tribal status met for the second round of talks.
As violence spread further, hundreds of Gujjars staged demonstrations in Delhi and its satellite towns of Noida and Gurgaon, burning effigies of Rajasthan Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje, blocking roads and causing traffic snarls.
Two people were killed in police firing in a village in Sawai Madhopur district, about 170 km from here, a senior district police officer told IANS over phone.
At least seven policemen were reported to be missing across the state.
"Police had to fire to disperse a violent mob that was burning public properties and damaging highways and railway tracks," the officer said. Police also reported clashes between agitators and policemen at Nadbai in Bharatpur district, 170 km from here.
Violence showed no signs of let-up in the state in spite of calls for calm by leaders of the Gujjar Sangharsh Samiti that is spearheading the agitation.
A group of protesters attacked and damaged government properties at Kotputli along the busy Jaipur-Delhi highway, while police posts were burnt at Virat Nagar. Protest actions were also reported from the Hindu holy town of Pushkar.
For the third day Rajasthan remained cut off from Delhi, Agra and Madhya Pradesh as protesting Gujjars continued to block arterial highways. Many bus and train services along key routes have either been cancelled or diverted.
Faced with Rajasthan's worst violence in decades, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government led by Vasundhara Raje held the first round of talks with Gujjar representatives from 2.30 a.m. to 4.00 a.m. Thursday.
"The first round of talks was held in a cordial environment and we are hopeful of an amicable solution to the crisis," a senior state government official said.
The second round of talks started around 7 p.m. here and ended 11.25 p.m. Rajasthan Home Minister G.C. Kataria and the Gujjar legislators also participated in the meeting to arrive at an amicable solution to the crisis at the earliest.
Describing the second round talks as satisfactory, official sources said the two sides will meet again Friday afternoon.
According to reliable sources, the government told the community representatives it would meet their demand for a compensation of Rs.500,000 and a government job for each of the families of the 14 people killed in police firing Tuesday.
Gujjars, who make up four to seven percent of the state's 56 million population, have been demanding Scheduled Tribe status in order to secure better job and educational opportunities.
Tuesday's police firing brought a welter of criticism against the Vasundhara Raje government, including from members of her own poverty and government.
However, the Meena community, which alone has Scheduled Tribe status in Rajasthan, Thursday opposed any move to grant Gujjars the same status.
"We will oppose the move tooth and nail," said a statement from the community, which does not want to share government benefits.
Reports of violence Thursday included acts of arson at Kota, Sawai Madhopur and Dausa towns, where the trouble started Tuesday. Army and paramilitary troops have been patrolling key violence-hit towns and the Jaipur-Delhi highway.
A group of foreigners – stuck at Ranthambore, a tiger sanctuary – were among thousands of tourists and commuters who have been stranded across the state for the last three days.
"A group of 20 tourists has been stranded in Ranthambore for the past two days. I don't know how to bring them to Jaipur. I have advised them to stay put in a hotel," S.K. Singh, a travel agent, said.