By IANS
Jaipur, The situation in Rajasthan continues to be tense Wednesday even as security has been beefed up in sensitive areas like Patauli near Dausa, over 80 kms from here, and Bundi, some 200 km from the state capital.
The two places saw violent protests Tuesday in which 14 people were killed and hundreds injured.
Over 600 personnel of the Rajasthan Armed Constabulary have been deployed on the Jaipur-Agra highway. The Centre has rushed 23 companies of paramilitary forces and the army has also been called out.
“Six columns have been sent from Jaipur to Dausa and two from Bharatpur have been dispatched to Mahua on Jaipur Agra national highway. Besides this, two columns have also been sent to Bundi from Kota,” state’s Home Minister Gulab Chand Kataria said.
“We would do everything necessary to maintain law and order,” he added. Kataria admitted that the situation in Patauli and Bundi was still volatile.
The minister said, as a preventive measure, authorities have arrested more than 80 people.
Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje said her government would not allow anyone to indulge in violence. “Violence will not be tolerated in any form. My government is open to talks,” Raje said Tuesday night.
Meanwhile, the Gujjars in Patauli refused to cremate five of the bodies of those who were among the killed in police firing Tuesday.
“We will continue to sit with the bodies beside us till the government pays Rs 5 million to each of the family of the killed and file cases of murder against the police officials responsible for these killings,” Kirorilal Bhainsala, convenor of Gujjar Sangarsh Samiti, which is spearheading the agitation said.
The Gujjars have given a call for a shut down in Bhilwara, over 250 kms from the state capital, Wednesday. Bhainsala said the Samiti the agitation would continue till their demand for scheduled caste status is met.
The Gujjar Sangarsh Samiti had called for blockade of all highways leading to Jaipur Tuesday. The state government has imposed prohibitory orders in six districts and tightened security in the areas near highways.
Prohibitory orders had been issued in Tonk, Jaipur, Dausa, Bundi, Sawai Madhopur and Karauli districts. Although over 2,000 policemen had been patrolling the area near Dausa on the Jaipur-Agra highway, thousands of Gurjjars gathered Tuesday morning on the national highway near Patauli village to block the road.
The police tried to stop them from blocking the highway but they refused to move, forcing the police to resort to lathi charge and then fire tear gas shells which failed to disperse the mob. Police finally opened fire.
“Fourteen persons including a policeman and one unidentified person have been killed in violent clashes in Patauli on Jaipur-Agra national highway and Bundi areas of the state,” said Kataria.
He said two policemen have been missing in Dausa and over 80 people have been injured in the violence. The maximum number of injured has been reported from Bundi where over 70 people including 30 to 40 policemen sustained injuries.
The Gujjars in the state have been demanding scheduled caste status. In September, protestors near the Hindon railway station had damaged railway tracks and property hitting railway services on the Mumbai-Delhi section.