Powerless Rohtak villagers block highway, 7 detained
Angry residents of Ismalia village under Sampla block on Saturday night blocked the national highway-10 (New Delhi- Rohtak road), and torched one Haryana roadways bus besides smashing the windows panes of several private vehicles including a police gypsy.
A demonstration by residents of Ismalia village in Sampla tehsil of Rohtak district, peeved over erratic electricity supply, turned violent on Saturday night.
Police have reportedly arrested seven persons for arson, rioting and assault on government officials.
As per details, villagers poured onto the national highway 10 around 9pm and went awry after police tried to disperse them using mild force. They resorted to stone pelting at midnight.
They blocked the Rohtak-Delhi national highway for around 10 hours by parking tractor-trolleys, leading to long traffic snarls.
The police had reached the spot after an hour and asked them to lift the blockade which evoked a violent response from the protesters. They started hurling stones at the police and torched a roadways bus trapped in the traffic snarl.
Though the police tried to divert traffic on a circuitous route, the traffic disruption continued for a long time.
The blockade was lifted on Sunday morning after sub-divisional magistrate Jagdish Sharma assured of proper electricity supply.
Later in the evening, villagers again blocked the highway, demanding cancellation of cases against protesters and release of those arrested.
A police team, led by deputy superintendent of police Sumit Kumar, reached the spot to clear the blockade, but villagers refused to give in. They were sitting on the highway till the filing of the report.
Talking to the Hindustan Times, Rohtak superintendent of police (SP) Vivek Sharma said: "A case of rioting, arson and assault on government officials has been registered against 15 identified and various unidentified persons responsible for the incident."
In another such incident, residents of Kultana village also blocked the Sampla-Beri road, demanding regular electricity supply. They also lifted the blockade on Sunday morning.