Jat agitation: Prohibitory orders in Delhi

In the wake of Jat leaders in Haryana launching fresh stir over quota, prohibitory orders will be imposed in certain areas of the national capital bordering the neighbouring state along with a few other places from today, Delhi Police said.

The prohibitory orders will be implemented in five police sub-divisions - Dwarka and Najafgarh in South-West Delhi, Alipur and Bawana in outer Delhi and Mukherjee Nagar in North-West Delhi, the senior police said. These five sub-divisions cover over 15 police stations.

In the first phase of the Jat agitation, violence was witnessed in and around Mukherjee Nagar and Najafgarh areas.

"Adequate arrangements have been made to ensure no law and order issue occurs," the official added.

In February, the agitating members of Jat community had held demonstrations at several places in the city, leading to severe disruption of traffic on key arterial roads.

Damage to public property by the protesters, who blocked major state border entry points, including Sindhu border, Nangloi-Bahadurgarh Road, Karnal road, Tikari, Jharoda and Madhuban Chowk in south-west and outer Delhi, creating major traffic snarls which affected many areas in the city.

Three months after their violent agitation left 30 people dead, Jat leaders in Haryana today renewed their quota stir, drawing lukewarm response amid tight security by the BJP government which had drawn severe flak over its handling of the protest last time.

"The state remained peaceful and no untoward incident was reported from any part. Also, the traffic was normal as neither any highway nor any railway line was blocked by the protesters," Haryana's Additional Chief Secretary (Home) Ram Niwas said.

He said that in many districts, no protests were held by Jat community members. At some places where the protesters sat on dharna, they submitted memorandums to the Deputy Commissioners and lifted the dharna after some time, he said.

Nearly 20,000 security personnel from central and state forces kept a close vigil across the state, including on national highways and railway tracks which the protesters had blocked for several days in February.