Five killed, 20 hurt in group clashes in Rajasthan

DAUSA/JAIPUR: The violent agitation by Gujjars, demanding ST status, took a turn for the worse on Friday as their members and Meenas clashed resulting in the death of five persons and injuries to 20 others.

Four persons were killed and 20 injured at Lalsot here in a clash that took place when protestors of the Gujjar community held a demonstration in the Meena-dominated area, Home Secretary V S Singh said in Jaipur quoting initial reports.

The injured have been rushed to the Lalsot hospital where the bodies were also taken, he said. The bodies were yet to be identified and the toll could go up in the incident as police were yet to reach the hilly area where it occurred, he said.

In adjoining Karauli district's Masalpur area, one person, said to be belonging to the Meena community, which is opposing the Gujjar demand, was shot dead by a person allegedly belonging to the other community, police said.

The man, a pharmacist, who was shot dead in Nangal Pyaribaas close to the area where the Meenas held a Mahapanchayat, was identified as Chagan Lal Meena and the accused has been arrested, police said.

Tension prevailed in the two districts where the Army and other security forces began heavy patrolling in the wake of the violence.

With Friday's incidents, the toll in the violence that began on Tuesday rose to 26. While 21 people have died in police firing and incidents of violence, two policemen were killed in clashes with Gujjars.

The fourth round of the Gujjar-government talks to end the stir over the community's demand for shifting it from OBC to ST category resumed late tonight in Jaipur.

The Delhi-Jaipur National Highway 8, which has been blockaded by the agitating Gujjars since Tuesday, has been opened to traffic with the Army and para-military forces providing security.

Eye witnesses to the clashes in Lalsot claimed that several Gujjars were beaten up and about 30 houses belonging to them were burnt down allegedly by members of the Meena community.

Groups belonging to Meena community, which enjoys ST status and has substantial representation in political parties and the government, had last night threatened to use force to lift the highway blockades imposed by the Gujjars.

As violence continued, shoot-at-sight orders were issued by the Rajasthan government against rioters in Sawai Madhopur and Bharatpur districts to stem the arson. They will remain in force till June 6.

On the Gujjar-government talks front, Gujjar Arakshan Sangharsh Morcha leader Kirori Lal Bhaisala, a retired army colonel, said, "Our delegation is in Jaipur and the fourth round of talks with the state government would be the final initiative by the Gujjar leaders.

"If that too would not be successful, we are not going to hold any more talks with the government after that," he said, adding that his community wanted that normal life should not be affected in the state any more.

A bandh, called in support of the Gujjars' demand, was observed in Tonk, Alwar, Nagaur, Bhilwara, Ajmer, Churu, Baran, Chittorgarh, Jhunjhunu, Karauli, Rajsamand, Sikar, Jaipur rural areas and Jhalawar, reports reaching here said.