Hisar burns in Jat quota fury, Hooda blames Opposition

Hisar: In spiralling violence, Jat protesters today torched a police post and a judge’s car and stormed the premises of Power Grid Corporation following the death of a person, prompting authorities to seek army’s help and close all educational institutions for three days in the district. As Hisar, located 155 kms from the national capital, was virtually under siege today by the protesters demanding OBC quota in government jobs and educational institutes, the Haryana government accused the Opposition INLD, which along with BJP stalled the assembly proceedings over the issue, of hatching a political conspiracy.[caption id=“attachment_238011” align=“alignleft” width=“380” caption=“Police force arrive after miscreants among the protesters of Jat Arakshan Samiti torched a police post in Hisar on Wednesday. PTI”]  [/caption] Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda maintained the government’s doors were always open for talks. The protesters, who have paralysed rail traffic for past 18 days, last night set afire the car of a District and Sessions Judge after a person was killed in clashes between agitators and police. The agitators today torched a police chowki in Hisar Cantt and damaged an SBI ATM in Cantt area, police said. The car of Raminder Jain, District and Sessions Judge, Jind, was set ablaze by protesters near Mirchpur when he was proceeding towards Jind, they said, adding the judge escaped unhurt. All roads to Delhi, Rajgarh and Sirsa from the district were blocked by protesters at more than a dozen places and buses remained off the roads. The government has stopped bus service from Hisar depot for two days. Though educational institutions will remain closed for three days as a precautionary measure, all Board Examinations will continue as scheduled, Deputy Commissioner Amit Aggarwal said. He said the district administration has sought army’s help to bring the situation under control. A mob also barged into the premises of Power Grid Corporation of India (PGCIL ) situated on Hisar-Delhi national highway near village Mayar. They torched the guest house of the grid and broke the furniture, air conditioners and television in the office. Ashish Charan, a civil engineer of the grid, said, “The loss may run into several crores. We have informed the police and our headquarter and requested them to depute force for the safety of the plant.” With Opposition today creating ruckus in the House over Jat issue, Hooda said that it appeared that the Opposition had already made up their mind to interrupt the functioning of the House. “The post of Leader of opposition has its own dignity and he (Chautala) should have made his point of view from the seat and not by rushing towards the Well of the House,” Hooda said. In reply to a question on Jat reservation, Surjewala said that Hooda had already appealed in the Vidhan Sabha to maintain peace, calm and patience. He said that the prima facie reports suggest that the death of the person was not due to police firing, “But it was too early to say anything as the actual cause of death can be ascertained after the postmortem report.” The district magistrate had informed that he did not order any firing, he said. PTI