Khattar faces black flags during Rohtak visit

Rohtak/Chandigarh, Feb 23  Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar had to face the wrath of locals and traders in Rohtak when he visited the violence-hit town on Tuesday.

Khattar was shown black flags by a section of traders and residents who also questioned him on his governmentÂ’s failure to deal with the violent Jat agitation.

The chief minister arrived in Rohitak, which saw the maximum violence and damage during the nine-day agitation, on Tuesday by helicopter as most areas of Haryana are still limping to normalcy.

“There are some forces behind the recent incidents. We will get it probed,” Khattar said, addressing people in Rohtak. He left for Delhi after a while.

The chief minister said that the role of officers, especially from the police, would be probed and strict action taken if they were found wanting in carrying out their duties during the agitation.

Khattar said the role of “conspirators” behind the mindless violence would be probed.

“We will fully compensate the losses of people who have suffered,” Khattar told the traders whose shops were looted and torched by the rioters.

Elsewhere, officials said traffic had been restored on the Delhi-Ambala national highway No. 1 (NH-1). 

Three people were killed when Jat protesters blocked the highway on Monday, forcing security forces to open fire on them.

Traffic was also restored on the Delhi-Hisar NH-10, especially near Sampla town, police said.

Curfew was relaxed in Rohtak town and some other places.

Hisar and Kaithal districts remained tense after members of Jat and non-Jat communities headed for a clash. Army and paramilitary forces remained on high alert in both districts.

Despite the BJP promising reservation for the Jat community in Haryana and assuring that a bill will be brought in the next session of Haryana assembly, Jats have not ended their agitation at some places in Rohtak, Hisar, Sonipat and Jhajjar districts.

The army and paramilitary forces remained stationed in the violence-hit districts.

The violence led to 19 deaths, including three people killed in firing by security forces on rioters blocking the NH-1 in Sonipat district on Monday.

Over 200 people have been injured in the frenzy that has ravaged the state bordering Delhi. The loss to property is estimated to be in hundreds of crores.

The Jat community is demanding reservation under the OBC category in government jobs and educational institutions.

The Haryana government has decided to give full compensation for the damage caused to private property, residential or commercial.

It has also decided to give an ex-gratia of Rs.10 lakh to the next of kin of those innocent people killed in the agitation and employment to a member of the family of the deceased.