Police assault on hostellers triggered riots: Panel

CHANDIGARH: How did Haryana start burning during the Jat agitation for reservation? According to the Prakash Singh Committee, which probed the riots that erupted in the state in February this year, cops assaulting students at a hostel in Rohtak and two inter-community clashes had triggered the violence in which 30 people were killed and 300 injured in the state.
The committee's report said the police action was unwarranted and that it "inflamed the anger of Jat agitators". Till February 17, there was no violence in the state despite protests and road blockades in some parts for almost one week.
The committee has said three incidents that occurred in a quick succession in Rohtak on February 18 precipitated the matter. In the first incident, according to the committee report, around 25-30 advocates had blocked the road in front of the court complex in Rohtak in support of the Jat stir when a procession of around 150-200 people from other communities, led by Kila Road Market Association chief Bittu Sachdeva, reached the site to protest against the Jat agitation.
A confrontation ensued and the two groups pelted stones and threw plastic chairs at each other. "While the agitating Jat advocates were at the receiving end, a group of around 200-250 students and advocates belonging to the Jat community arrived at the location under the leadership of Sudeep Kalkal, youth state head of Akhil Bharatiya Jat Arakshan Sangharsh Samiti-Hawa Singh Sangwan faction (ABJASS)," the committee report says.
In the ensuing melee, four motorcycles - one at Chotu Ram Chowk and the rest at Ashoka Chowk - were set ablaze by the anti-reservation protesters. There was also a rumour that Sir Chotu Ram's statute had been damaged. This was the second incident which added fuel to fire. Meanwhile, in response to the reported beating of advocates in the court complex, groups of Jat students blocked traffic at four places in the town. Local police used force to get these blockades lifted. "Thereafter, Amit Dahiya, DSP, Rohtak, along with a posse of police force, entered the hostel premises of Neki Ram Government College, Rohtak, and allegedly beat up some students," states the committee report, adding that this was the third incident - the proverbial last straw - which led to the explosion of Jat anger and resultant violence.
According to the report, a mob of 1,500 youths belonging to the Jat community gathered in front of Maharishi Dayanand University on February 19. The mob damaged Agro Mall and took about 10-12 policemen, including a DSP-rank officer, hostage inside the mall. However, an IPS officer, Kulwinder Singh, managed to get the police personnel released. The mob thereafter ransacked and damaged the Circuit House in Rohtak. At 2pm, there was a confrontation between the police and BSF personnel and the agitators. Some anti-social elements reportedly fired a gun, injuring a BSF jawan. "The BSF personnel thereupon fired in self-defence, killing one person and injuring 18-19 others," says the report.
This infuriated the mob, which then moved towards the residence of state finance minister Captain Abhimanyu Singh and set his house and six vehicles parked inside the compound on fire. "Some agitators also indulged in looting and vandalism of shops at Delhi bypass, Medical Mor and near the Circuit House," the report says. Incidents of violence and arson also took place near Satyam Mall in Sector 3, Rohtak. Next day, the violence had spread to more than half a dozen districts because of caste conflicts and it was controlled on February 22 only.