Jaipur, May 28 (Agencies): Gujjars blocking railway tracks and highways to press for a quota in government jobs were facing a crackdown on Thursday, with the Centre sending in 4,500 paramilitary personnel and the Rajasthan high court ordering the state to act immediately.

The high court pulled up the Chief Secretary and the state’s police chief on Thursday for failing to arrest even a single Gujjar agitator and allowing people to suffer because of the “undemocratic” agitation that has crippled road and rail services in the state.

“You (CS & DGP) being the head of bureaucracy and law and order machinery are not bound to be mere spectators of the political dialogue between the Gujjar agitators and the state government,” a single judge bench of the court said.

Gujjar protesters in three districts continued to block the Delhi-Mumbai rail route and Jaipur-Agra national highway for the eighth day on Thursday.

Their leaders were scheduled to resume talks with the government on Thursday to discuss a new formula, although it was not clear if Gujjar leader Kirori Singh Bainsla, a retired army colonel, would be participating.

The court’s observations and order came on a contempt petition pending since 2008 against Gujjar leaders including Bainsla for violating earlier orders of the court.

”We are making it clear … that this court is keen to see that the blockades are removed immediately today itself with the train track and highway clear for movement overnight and we must be understood seriously while observing this,” Justice R.S. Rathore said.

The bench also refused the prayer of the officials seeking exemption from personal appearance.

”They will have to be present in court till they clear the rail and road traffic else action will follow,” said the bench.

Members of the community are squatting on the railway track in Pilukapura in Bharatpur, on NH-11 at Sikandara in Dausa and a state highway in Sawai Madhopur.

Karauli district has also been affected by the agitation.

The number of protesters on the tracks increased on Wednesday night, with even women and children armed with sticks and batons joining the movement.