As many as 20 Jat protesters were detained by Barwala police in Hisar district after the agitators started a dharna at Surewala Chowk on Saturday.
Jat protesters assembled near the Chowk on Hisar-Barwala and Chandigarh road at about 10am and started shouting slogans against the Haryana government, under the banner of All India Jat Aarakshan Sangharsh Samiti (AIJASS).
AIJASS leader Ajeet Litani claimed, “We were sitting peacefully at the chowk, when heavy police force reached here. Police, along with district administration officials asked us to lift the dharna.”
“When we were peacefully holding our protest without disturbing traffic, why should we lift it?" Litani added.
Later, police took 20 people to Barwala police station after detaining them and released them at 5pm.
Talking to HT, AIJASS leader Rambhagat Malik said, “Jat protesters have been demanding reservation in central as well as state government jobs and release of those “innocent” youths who were arrested during the February stir.”
“Our demands are compensation and jobs for the next of kin of those who lost their lives during the protest and cancellation of sedition charges against AIJASS national president Yashpal Malik. It is wrong to arrest peacefully protesting youths," Malik added.
Superintendent of police (SP) Ashwin Shenvi said, “The protesters were detained because there was no permission from the administration to hold dharna. Agitators were later released. Police will not allow anyone to breach law and order situation in the district.”
{{/usCountry}}Superintendent of police (SP) Ashwin Shenvi said, “The protesters were detained because there was no permission from the administration to hold dharna. Agitators were later released. Police will not allow anyone to breach law and order situation in the district.”
{{/usCountry}}Meanwhile, the ongoing protest entered its 14th day at Mayyar village stadium in Hisar district on Saturday.