Five killed in police firing in Rajasthan

Five persons, including a policeman, were killed in police firing and violence during protests by Gujjars in Bharatpur district.

Five persons, including a policeman, were killed on Friday in police firing and violence during protests by Gujjars demanding scheduled tribe status in Rajasthan's Bharatpur district.

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Police opened fire after agitated protestors clashed with them and torched two police jeeps in Karwar area in Bayana block of the district neighbouring Jaipur, officials said. One policeman was killed in the violence.

The mob pelted stones and tried to damage the track between Dumariya and Karwar railway stations and did not disperse even after police lobbed teargas shells, Principal Home Secretary V S Singh said in Jaipur.

Today's trouble comes a week ahead of the first anniversary of the police firing on Gujjar agitators in the state and subsequent violence that claimed 26 lives.

The clashes broke out as protesters gathered this morning at Dumariya near here in support of a 'rail roko' call given by Rajasthan Gurjar Arakashan Sangarsh Samiti leader Kirori Singh Bainsla.

Unconfirmed reports said that the agitators also fired at police and toll in the violence was higher.