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Agnipath scheme: Protests continue for 2nd day in Haryana, Jind-Bathinda railway track blocked
Tyres were burnt in Rohtak and stones were pelted at vehicles in Ballabgarh; around 40 protesters, who were mainly college students, were lathicharged and rounded up
Protests erupted in Jind, Mahendergarh and Rewari districts of Haryana again on Friday against Agnipath -- Centre’s new recruitment scheme for the armed forces -- even as youths in Bhiwani, Rohtak, Jhajjar, and Hisar districts held peaceful demonstrations while wielding the Tricolour.
While 17 people have been detained and 150 booked in Jind district for allegedly attacking police personnel and damaging public property, three first information reports (FIRs) were registered in Mahendergarh against the protesters for pelting stones. At least nine police personnel have sustained injuries in Jind after protesters pelted stones at them.
As many as 350 unidentified persons were booked at Rewari city police station. The police are in process to identify the accused with the help of video footage.
Section 144 has been imposed in Rohtak till Saturday. Mahendergarh SP Vikrant Bhushan also said that Section 144 has been imposed in the district to maintain law and order.
Meanwhile, Haryana government temporarily suspended mobile internet services (2G/3G/4G/CDMA/GPRS), all SMS services (bulk SMS and excluding banking and mobile recharge), and all dongle services provided on mobile networks except the voice calls in the territorial jurisdiction of Mahendergarh till 4.30pm on Saturday.
Suspension of mobile internet services will continue in Palwal and Ballabhgarh for next 24 hours, the government said in a statement.
“There is a likelihood of tension, annoyance, obstruction or injury to persons, danger to human life...disturbance of public peace and tranquillity in Mahendergarh... by the protesters, agitators, miscreants and antisocial elements, in view of the potential law and order situation arising on account of new army recruitment policy,” an official spokesperson said, adding the temporary suspension has been imposed to stop the spread of disinformation and rumours through various social media platforms.
In Jind, the protesters assembled at Narwana town and blocked Bathinda–Delhi railway track for four hours.
Later, the protesters blocked Patiala-Delhi national highway near Narwana town and pelted stones at policemen when they were marching from new bus stand towards the DC office.
However, protesters took out peaceful marches in Bhiwani, Rohtak, Jhajjar, Hisar and few other districts and submitted memorandums to respective DCs, urging the Union government to revoke the scheme.
In Mahendergarh, the demonstrators held a sit-in on the railway track in Satnali town and blocked vehicular traffic at Mahavir Chowk and Hero Honda Chowk in Narnaul town for over two hours. In Rewari district, a group of youngsters allegedly pelted stones at the cops when the latter stopped them from blocking the Delhi-Jaipur highway near Aasalvaas village.
As the protesters damaged police barricades, the cops resorted to a mild lathi charge to disperse them, eyewitnesses said.
As per the reports, the protesters also blocked roads in Ratia and other areas in Fatehabad district. Taking advantage of unrest among the youth, some local farm leaders also took part in the protest march in Rohtak, Jind, and Hisar.
A large number of army aspirants took out a protest march in Kaithal as well.
Amid heavy police deployment, the demonstrators reached Kaithal mini-secretariat and raised slogans opposing the new recruitment policy.
Similar protest took place in Kurukshetra where members of student unions held a demonstration at the main entrance of Kurukshetra University.
