By IANS
New Delhi : The states of Rajasthan, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh and Delhi filed affidavits in the Supreme Court, as directed by it, explaining the action they had taken before and after the violent agitation by the Gujjar community demanding Scheduled Tribe status.
The apex court had on June 5, taking suo motu cognisance of the large- scale violence unleashed by the protesters and describing it as a "national shame", had directed the four states to file action taken reports and posted the case for further hearing on June 18.
The court had also sought video footage of news coverage on the agitation from various TV channels for assessment by senior advocate Rajiv Dhawan, appointed as amicus curiae to assist it in adjudication of the case. The video footage could form the basis for issuing further direction for action against the culprits, it had said.
Haryana Director General of Police R.S. Dalal, in his affidavit said a total of nine first information reports were registered in five districts of the state – Kaithal, Faridabad, Panipat, Yamunanagar and Gurgaon. He said 35 people had been booked for indulging in violence and 34 preventive detentions made.
Delhi Deputy Police Commissioner H.M. Meena said 54 people were arrested and 1,034 arrested as a preventive measure.
On June 4, the Gujjar community had called for a shutdown and traffic was disrupted in the Mehrauli-Gurgaon Road and there was a law and order problem.
In its affidavit Rajasthan said the Gujjar agitation went out of control despite best efforts taken to control the violent mob.
The state's Director General of Police A.S. Gill said "during the intervening night of May 28 and 29, persons belonging to the Gujjar community started moving in large numbers towards the Jaipur-Agra National Highway-II in district Dausa and Karoli from all directions on foot and vehicles, including jeeps, tractors and trolleys, mostly on unconventional and `kutcha' tracks."
"The agitators regrouped time and again but after cane charge, use of tear gas they were chased away. As the agitations grew beyond control, police had to resort to firing which resulted in the death of six persons. The agitators surrounded the police party and 97 police officers were injured, one of them succumbed to injuries."
He said 2,081 preventive arrests were made, 352 First Information Reports registered, 265 accused are in jail and 68 are on bail.
Gill said the government was able to contain the agitation by May 31.