By IANS
Jaipur : The recent Gujjars' agitation demanding tribal status and Meenas' opposition to it had left a social divide in Rajasthan, rights groups have said while seeking a judicial enquiry into the caste violence and police firing that claimed 25 lives early this month.
A 24-member team belonging to the People's Union for Civil Liberties (PUCL), People's Union for Democratic Rights and Association for Democratic Rights launched an "investigation" into the agitations and found that the week-long protests by the Gujjars and its retaliation by the Meena community has changed the scenario of rural Rajasthan.
Gujjars had held violent protests from May 29 to June 4 across the state demanding tribal status for better employment and educational opportunities.
Castigating the administrative officials for generating tensions and clashes between the two communities, the civil rights organisations said: "There are sufficient reasons to believe that senior government functionaries were actively engaged in provoking the Meena community to fight the Gujjars."
The non-government organisations (NGOs) have also flayed the police for resorting to firing. "The firing in Patoli-Pipal Kheda and Bundi was unwarranted and inhuman," they said.
They have also called for changing the administrative and police leadership in Dausa, Bundi, Sawai Madhopur, where the police and people were pitted against each other.
The agitation, which turned into a caste conflict, had paralysed Rajasthan as major roads were blocked while train services were disrupted.
At least 25 people were killed and hundreds injured in the violence. On June 4, the state government and the protesting Gujjars had reached an understanding.
As per an agreement reached, a retired high court judge would head a three-member committee that would look into the demands of Gujjars.
The committee is expected to submit its report to the state government after three months.