Chandigarh, Mar. 18 (PTI): Prohibitory orders were clamped and mobile internet services suspended at many places in Haryana on Friday as the state braced for possible revival of the Jat quota agitation that had led to widespread violence claiming the lives of 30 people last month.
Mobile internet services for 2G, 3G and 4G have been suspended in many sensitive districts, including Rohtak and Jhajjar, which were the epicentre of the recent Jat stir, officials said.
Prohibitory orders banning assembly of five or more persons have been issued by some district authorities, including Sonipat.
”There were some messages which were being circulated on WhatsApp about fake untoward incidents. Some messages were also forwarded on the mobile number of Rohtak's SP yesterday. We also rounded up few persons in this regard,” Rohtak's Deputy Commissioner, Atul Kumar, told PTI over phone.
When asked how long the internet services will remain suspended, he said, “We will not prolong it. These are just precautionary measures.”
Jhajjar's police chief, Jashan Deep Singh, also said they had taken a similar step as such messages were being circulated.
Meanwhile, Haryana government was holding talks with Jat leaders here Friday afternoon on their quota demand.
Yashpal Malik, President of All India Jat Aarakshan Sanghursh Samiti, said in view of their meeting with Haryana Chief Secretary and Director General of Police the agitation will not be resumed.
”After meeting the top officials next course of action will be taken,” he said.
Various Jat organisations had given a deadline of 72 hours on Monday threatening to resume their quota agitation if the Manohar Lal Khattar government did not meet their demands. The deadline ended Thursday following which the state government invited Jat leaders for talks.
Jats are demanding 10 per cent quota in jobs and educational institutions, besides withdrawal of cases registered against the protesters, compensation to those killed during the stir and action against Bharatiya Janata Party lawmaker from Kurukshetra Raj Kumar Saini for his “anti-Jat” reservation stand.
