June 8, 2007
Gujjars Demand Action
Against Police Harassment
Jaipur
Gujjar leaders Friday asked the Rajasthan government to take action
against police officials, who they allege are harassing members of
the community, even as a mass meet was held in Pushkar to decide the
future strategy to pursue their reservation demands.
Colonel Kirori Lal Bainsla, convenor of the Gujjar Aarkshan Sangarsh
Samiti, and other Gujjar leaders met government officials here and
expressed concern over the police action against the community.
Gujjar Aarkshan Sangarsh Samiti is the body that spearheaded the
agitation to press the demand for tribal status to the farming
community for better job and educational opportunities.
"Some of our people are being beaten up cruelly. They are
unnecessarily harassing us. The government should immediately take
action against these officials," said Roop Singh, spokesperson of
the Samiti.
Police have registered over 200 cases against Gujjars, including one
each against Col Bainsla and Singh, for alleged murder and rioting
during their statewide agitation last week.
Meanwhile, over 1,500 people attended the mass meet at Pushkar, 140
kms from here, in which they discussed the accord reached with the
state government, a Gujjar leader said.
They called for a national meet on June 24 in Pushkar where Gujjars
from all over the country are expected to participate.
It was also decided to set up a Gujjar Arakshan Sanyukta Morcha, a
national body to take up the cause of reservation.
Bainsla will also be invited and he would be asked the reasons
behind reaching an agreement with the government, the leader said.
After meeting state officials, Roop Singh said: "We are committed to
the agreement reached with the state government on June 4, and we
have asked that the process of setting up the high-powered committee
to look into the reservation demand be expedited.
"We have also asked the government to expedite payment of relief to
those injured during the violence."
The Rajasthan Armed Constabulary (RAC) had filed a case against 200
Gujjar leaders May 29 in a police station in Todabhim in Karauli
district, over 170 km from here. The Gujjar leaders have also been
booked for damaging public property.
Rajasthan's parliamentary secretary Bhawani Singh Rajawat, however,
said police complaints being filed were a procedural exercise and no
one would be arrested before an in-depth investigation.
The sections under which the complaints were made relate to rioting,
murder, voluntarily causing hurt to deter a public servant from his
duty and for assault or criminal force to deter a public servant
from discharge of his duty.
The case relating to murder was registered for the death of RAC
constable Dungar Singh in the May 29 violence in Dausa - one of the
flashpoints of the week-long agitation.
Rajasthan witnessed violent caste clashes between May 29 and June 4
over the reservation issue in which 25 people, including two
policemen, were killed and over 80 injured.
Normalcy returned after the Gujjars reached an understanding with
the state government, with the latter setting up a three-member
committee to look into their demands.
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