Violence erupts during protests for caste benefits in India

The DGP said that curfew had been imposed in Rohtak, Bhiwani and Jhajjar districts. Eight people have been admitted to various hospitals so far. Agitators attacked government offices and ministers’ homes, as well as the Munak canal that supplies water to Delhi.

Haryana Home Secretary and Director General of Police YP Singhal to address media at 12 pm in Chandigarh.

Indian army soldiers conduct a flag march past damaged buildings at Rohtak, a day after being rocked by violence in Haryana state, India, Saturday, Feb. 20, 2016.

Curfew continued in Rohtak, Bhiwani and Jhajjar towns on Saturday but the violence did not stop.

“I appeal, pray to the people of Haryana to maintain peace and harmony”, Union minister Birender Singh said in New Delhi.

Mobs set a police station in Meham town on fire.

“The police station has been set on fire by a group of about 2000-2500 people”. A railway station was set on fire in a village in Jind district, a dharamshala was set on fire in Jhajjar and buses were set on fire in Julana and Kaithal towns.

Singh is the BJP’s most notable Jat leader from Haryana.

In Rohtak, the agitators set on fire the house of Haryana finance minister Capt Abhimanyu, who also belongs to the Jat community. Police said at least 78 others have been injured since Friday.

The army was tonight flying in more troops to Haryana by Mi-17 helicopters, with the agitators having blocked or dug up roads. The Army chief DS Suhag was also present along with top officials of the security establishment.

The agitation reached the national capital with Delhi University students from the Jat community protesting in the North Campus, leading to traffic jams on the Mall Road.

“Injustice is being done to us”. One from the protestors died in the incident and several sustained injuries.

He said the government had first engaged some Jat and Khap leaders by having talks with them, but took appropriate steps after the situation changed. Reports said over 800 trains were cancelled because of the Haryana agitation. More than 800 trains have been affected by the agitation, which has hit tourism to Himachal Pradesh hard.

Northern Railway’s chief public relations officer Neeraj Sharma told ANI that routes passing through Panipat, Rohtak and Rewadi have been closed.

Jat leaders have said that the agitation would continue till their demand was met.

Almost 550 trains were either cancelled or diverted since the agitation began a week ago.

“The national highway-1 (NH-1) is blocked but efforts are on to get the blockade lifted”, Singhal said. The delegation urged the Home Minister to ensure that justice is given to the community by the BJP government in Haryana and the NDA government at the Centre.

The State government, he said, was trying to break up the Jat agitation by spreading the message that it was “leaderless”.

10 companies of para-military forces reached the area and 23 more companies were on their way to Haryana.

Internet remained suspended and authorities issued shoot on sight orders to security forces.