Gujjar protests continue in Delhi, buses stoned

Members of the Gujjar community target buses and block roads, leading to major traffic snarls at various places.

Sporadic violence marked protests by Gujjars in the Capital for the second consecutive day on Friday as members of the community targeted buses and blocked roads, leading to major traffic snarls at various places.

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Two passenger buses were stoned in Dhullupura locality of east Delhi on Friday morning by a mob which took to the streets protesting the police firing on Gujjars in Rajasthan, killing several people.

The protestors, including women, burnt the effigies of Rajasthan Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje and blocked roads, throwing vehicular movement out of gear for sometime during the rush hours, police said.

Police have detained several persons in connection with the protests. Official sources said a case would be registered against them for rioting and causing destruction to public property.

Demonstrations were also taken out in Khajoori Khaz, Bhajanpura and Seelampur localities of northeast Delhi and Githorni, Aya Nagar and Mehrauli areas in south Delhi. The protestors also blocked the MG road for sometime.

Around 200 people, who blocked roads in Khajoori Khaz, were detained and let off after sometime, police said. A large number of Gurjars assembled at Jantar Mantar shouting slogans against Rajasthan government.

"We have stepped up vigil in view of the protests and set up additional pickets besides increasing patrolling," a senior police official said.

With protests taking place on the highways leading to the Capital, police had on Thursday tightened security at all the borders.