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NEW DELHI: The threat of hordes of lathi-wielding, marauding Gujjars laying a siege to Delhi and the neighbouring area of Noida, Gurgaon and Faridabad on Thursday triggered panic among administrators, forcing the Centre to put the entire region on high alert and order a massive police deployment in sensitive areas. ( Watch )
The alert went out on Tuesday as Gujjars continued their rampage in Rajasthan and other areas, ripping out rail signalling systems, blocking arterial highways and clashing with police. Although no fatalities were added to the 39 dead in five days of violence, several people were injured in police teargassing and lathi charges.
Protesters demanding Gujjar inclusion in the Scheduled Tribe list removed fish-plates and uprooted signals, blocking rail traffic in western Uttar Pradesh and parts of Rajasthan, delaying 42 trains, forcing cancellation of 10 others, including the Mumbai-bound Rajdhani Express.
Sources said that since the Gujjar unrest was fast reaching NCR, which has already witnessed sporadic protests, the security establishment did not want to leave anything to chance on Thursday when the community has threatened to block traffic.
Meanwhile, three additional army columns (nearly 240 personnel) were rushed to Rajasthan to assist the state police in the violence-hit districts. Earlier, 10 army columns (nearly 800 personnel) had been sent to the state. Besides, 21 companies (nearly 2,500 personnel) of paramilitary forces including Rapid Action Force, CRPF and BSF are also there to assist the civil authorities.
Gujjars have already set up tents in east, southeast and south Delhi along the borders of Delhi and on Tuesday, groups tried to organize themselves and set up road blocks in the city. They blocked the Badarpur-Mehrauli road led by ex-councillor Virender Kasana, around 9am. About 200 people participated in the blockade and burned the effigy of Rajasthan chief minister Vasundhara Raje.
The alert went out on Tuesday as Gujjars continued their rampage in Rajasthan and other areas, ripping out rail signalling systems, blocking arterial highways and clashing with police. Although no fatalities were added to the 39 dead in five days of violence, several people were injured in police teargassing and lathi charges.
Protesters demanding Gujjar inclusion in the Scheduled Tribe list removed fish-plates and uprooted signals, blocking rail traffic in western Uttar Pradesh and parts of Rajasthan, delaying 42 trains, forcing cancellation of 10 others, including the Mumbai-bound Rajdhani Express.
Sources said that since the Gujjar unrest was fast reaching NCR, which has already witnessed sporadic protests, the security establishment did not want to leave anything to chance on Thursday when the community has threatened to block traffic.
Meanwhile, three additional army columns (nearly 240 personnel) were rushed to Rajasthan to assist the state police in the violence-hit districts. Earlier, 10 army columns (nearly 800 personnel) had been sent to the state. Besides, 21 companies (nearly 2,500 personnel) of paramilitary forces including Rapid Action Force, CRPF and BSF are also there to assist the civil authorities.
Gujjars have already set up tents in east, southeast and south Delhi along the borders of Delhi and on Tuesday, groups tried to organize themselves and set up road blocks in the city. They blocked the Badarpur-Mehrauli road led by ex-councillor Virender Kasana, around 9am. About 200 people participated in the blockade and burned the effigy of Rajasthan chief minister Vasundhara Raje.
