(Image source from: Jat Quota row)

Violent protests by Jats in Haryana demanding reservation in government jobs and educational institutions under OBC category has prompted the government to suspend Mobile internet services indefinitely.

“Internet and SMS services have been suspended till further orders in Rohtak,” Rohtak SP Shashank Anand said today. The decision has been taken “to maintain law and order” in the district, he said, but mobile services will continue in the district.

Former Haryana chief minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda on Thursday blamed “differing voices in the BJP” for the renewed Jat agitation for reservation. He also accused the ruling party of having no stand on the issue.

"Section 144 has been imposed with immediate effect from today in Rohtak," Additional Deputy Commissioner Amit Khatri said.

"We (Jats) cannot be fooled once again, we have been fighting for our right for several years now. The agitation has further spread to Kaithal, Faridabad, Karnal, Palwal today and by tomorrow, it will cover entire Haryana," All India Jat Aarakshan Sangarsh Samiti's national president, Yashapal Malik said.

"We are not happy with the CM's offer of increase in the EWS quota," said Krishan Kirmara, a senior leader of the Samiti.

"We discussed the assurances given by the chief minister but agitators sitting on roads are not ready to clear the blockade till the announcement of quota benefits for them," said Leader of Dalal Khap, Captain Man Singh.

The protesters had blocked most of the national and state highways and railway tracks on Thursday, hindering traffic movement in the districts of Hisar, Jind, Jhajjar, Panipat, Sonepat and Bhiwani throughout the day. Protesters have also clashed with the police in Jind and Bhiwani as well.

Police used teargas shells to disperse the protesters near Pandit Neki Ram Sharma Government College in the town. Four motorcycles were set ablaze at Subhash Chowk and one at Chhotu Ram Chowk while another two-wheeler was damaged elsewhere in Rohtak. To handle the protesters, Border Security Force (BSF) personnel, apart from around 20 companies of police, have been deployed in the town. Rohtak's acting superintendent of police, Saurabh Singh, said that almost half a dozen persons had been arrested. "We have cleared blockades from all roads in Rohtak," he added.

By Premji